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. 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”. 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.