[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 82 (Monday, April 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20976-20977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10401]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-02-46]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports 
Clearance Officer on (404) 498-1210.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Anne O'Connor, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.
    Proposed Project: Examination of HIV Stigmatizing Beliefs and 
Attitudes in a Nationally Representative Cohort--New--National Center 
for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHSTP), Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, (CDC).
    CDC, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Division of 
HIV/AIDS Prevention-Intervention, Research, and Support (DHAP-IRS) 
propose a brief follow-up study of a nationally representative sample 
of individuals that completed short questionnaires about HIV 
stigmatizing attitudes in the summer of 2000. The original study relied 
on a new technology, the Web-enabled television, to collect data from 
individuals in their homes. This same technique will be be used to 
gather data in the proposed study. The information obtained will 
contribute to an understanding of stigmatizing attitudes, investigate 
the effectiveness of a stigma-reduction strategy with the potential to 
reach broadly into a target audience, and guide future research and 
intervention efforts in this area.
    HIV stigma inhibits HIV testing and positive serostatus disclosure, 
and thus increases the risk of HIV infection. Although there is 
evidence that, in the general population, HIV stigmatizing attitudes 
and beliefs may have decreased somewhat over the last 15 years, there 
is no information about the stability of HIV stigmatizing attitudes and 
beliefs over time within the same individuals. Understanding patterns 
of stigma will make it possible to identify effective strategies for 
stigma reduction, and these could carry a significant public health 
benefit.
    HIV stigma is a pervasive societal problem, and a meaningful 
decrease in stigma will require interventions that reach large numbers 
of people. The electronic mass media reach millions of people, and 
nationally televised broadcasts have been shown to increase knowledge 
of health issues, promote attitudes and norms that support prevention, 
and model prevention behaviors. Serialized daytime television dramas 
may offer some particular advantages for effective dissemination of 
anti-stigma messages. A large proportion of their audiences, compared 
with other demographic groups, report getting their health information 
from television. In addition, the dramatic presentation of health-
relevant messages may make them more noticeable and memorable. The CDC 
collaborates with writers of television shows to ensure that the 
health-related information they present is accurate and timely. After 
collaboration with CDC officials, a long-running, televised, daytime 
soap opera

[[Page 20977]]

introduced a subplot about HIV. The subplot presented information that 
has the potential to reduce HIV stigmatizing attitudes in viewers. The 
proposed study will screen all respondents for exposure to this soap 
opera broadcast and a similar one without an HIV storyline so that the 
effects of storyline exposure on HIV stigma can be assessed. There is 
no cost to the respondent.

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                                                                                          Average      Average
                                                               Number of    Number of      Burden     burden Per
                         Respondents                          respondents   responses/    Response     response
                                                                            respondent   (in hours)   (in hours)
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Adult non-viewers...........................................         3200            1         5/60          267
Adult viewers...............................................          300            1        10/60           50
                                                                                                    ------------
    Total...................................................                                                 317
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    Dated: April 19, 2002.
Nancy E. Cheal,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-10401 Filed 4-26-02; 8:45 am]
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