Responding to a national policy need: development of a stigma indicator for bloodborne viruses and sexually transmissible infections

In Australia, there are five strategies that set out a national response to HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections.1-5 Each strategy contains a set of objectives that work towards reducing the transmission, morbidity and mortality associated with these infections, with progress monitored via a set of related indicators. A clear objective exists within each of the five strategies to “eliminate the negative impact of stigma, discrimination, and legal and human rights issues on people's health”.1-5 However, until recently, there has been no indicator to measure stigma and monitor progress against these objectives. This commentary outlines an approach taken to develop a stigma indicator and lessons learned from its implementation in surveys of priority population groups.