Pregnant women's preferences for mode of delivery questionnaire: Psychometric properties.

INTRODUCTION: The rate of caesarean delivery is increasing worldwide. Maternal beliefs may be influential on the mode of delivery. This study aimed to validate pregnant women's preferences for mode of delivery questionnaire among pregnant women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study which was done in Ahvaz Public and Private Health Care Centers. A total of 342 low-risk pregnant women were included in a study conducted in spring 2011 in Ahvaz, Iran. After careful consideration and performing content and face validity, a 62-item measure was developed and subjects completed the questionnaire. Reliability was estimated using internal consistency and validity was assessed by performing face, content and structure and discriminate validity. Data were analyzed using explanatory factor analysis, t-test, and correlations in SPSS 16.

RESULTS: The findings of content and face validity showed almost perfect results for both content validity ratio = 1 and content validity index = 1. The explanatory factor analysis indicated a 7-subscale measure (Eigenvalue >1, factor loading >0.4), and discriminate validity revealed satisfying results P < 0.05 for 6 out of 7 subscales. Internal consistency as measured by the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was acceptable for subscales.

CONCLUSIONS: In general, the findings suggest that this newly generated scale is a reliable and valid specific questionnaire for assessing pregnant women's preferences for mode of delivery. However, further studies are needed to establish stronger psychometric properties for the questionnaire.