Description

The Meharry Questionnaire: The Measurement of Attitudes Toward AIDS-Related Issues is a tool designed to assess individuals’ attitudes and perceptions regarding issues related to AIDS. This scale examines views, knowledge, and attitudes connected with the prevention, treatment, and social perception of AIDS.

Objective

The objectives of the Meharry Scale are:
Assessment of Attitudes and Knowledge: To measure individuals’ attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions about AIDS and HIV infection.
Examination of the Impact of Attitudes: To understand how attitudes and perceptions influence preventive behavior, social support, and solidarity toward people living with HIV/AIDS.
Guidance for Interventions: To provide data for the development of educational programs and interventions aimed at improving awareness and acceptance of AIDS-related issues.

Analysis

The analysis of data from the Meharry Scale includes:
Data Collection: Participants respond to questions that assess their knowledge, attitudes, and opinions regarding AIDS.
Categorization of Attitudes: Responses are categorized to identify key attitudes and perceptions, such as risk perception, acceptance of people with HIV/AIDS, and attitudes toward prevention policies.
Statistical Analysis: Statistical methods are used to analyze the data and to understand the relationships between attitudes and variables such as education, age, and gender.

Scoring

The scoring of the Meharry Scale includes:
Use of Likert Scales: Participants rate statements related to their attitudes toward AIDS using Likert scales (e.g., from 1 to 5).
Computation of Indices: Responses are aggregated to calculate indices for the main categories of attitudes and knowledge.
Analysis of Relationships: The connection between attitude indices and other parameters, such as knowledge about AIDS and preventive behavior, is examined.

References

Meharry Medical College Research Team. (1989). The Measurement of Attitudes Toward AIDS-Related Issues: Development and Validation of the Meharry Questionnaire. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
Chesney, M. A., & Smith, A. W. (1999). Critical Delays in HIV Testing and Care: The Role of Attitudes and Beliefs. AIDS Care.
Herek, G. M., & Capitanio, J. P. (1998). Symbolic Prejudice and AIDS: A Social Psychological Perspective. Social Science & Medicine.
St. Lawrence, J. S., & Morrow, K. M. (1998). HIV Prevention Research and the Role of Attitudes: Implications for Intervention Design. AIDS Education and Prevention.