Arabic Language Surveys Measuring Mothers’ Satisfaction During Childbirth: A Review

Abstract

PURPOSE: To review Arabic surveys used to measure maternal satisfaction.
 
 METHODOLOGY: Peer-reviewed studies published in English and Arabic since 2000 were reviewed across eight databases. Surveys were assessed by: survey construction, reliability, and validity.
 
 FINDINGS: The seven studies that met the inclusion criteria were in English and included seven different Arabic surveys. Survey items ranged from eight to 32 and were translated from English (3/7) or were originally written in Arabic (4/7). Six surveys were pilot tested. Dimensions covered by the surveys varied but all measured satisfaction about providers’ interpersonal care. Internal reliability was reported for four surveys and none reported the test-re-test results. Three studies reported content validity, one reported face validity, one reported construct validity, and none reported criterion validity. Participants’ inclusion criteria varied but all studies excluded women with still births or obstetric complications. When surveyed within hospital (3/7), participants were approached within 72 hours after delivery while those surveyed outside the hospital were approached two weeks, seven weeks, or two months after discharge. Overall, the eight-item survey was found short, well tested with good psychometric properties.
 
 CONCLUSIONS: The psychometric properties of Arabic surveys were determined in limited settings, were not well reported, and varied. The eight-item survey is a well-tested survey with good psychometric properties. Furthermore, rigorous evaluation of Arabic surveys in different contexts with wider inclusion criteria is required. Our findings will promote further research in this area and will help enhance maternal experience with childbearing.

Psychometric properties of a Saudi Arabian version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R)

“…For a thorough and reliable evaluation of women’s assessments of their childbirth experiences, it is imperative to employ self-report measures with sound psychometric properties. However, previous reviews have consistently found that most instruments measuring birth satisfaction lack robust psychometric properties and theoretical coherence (Al Nadabi & Mohammed, 2019 ; Sawyer et al, 2013 ). A review of 18 years (2000–2018) identified nine instruments used in Arabic-speaking nations, none of which were applied in Saudi Arabia.…”

“…A review of 18 years (2000–2018) identified nine instruments used in Arabic-speaking nations, none of which were applied in Saudi Arabia. The conclusion was that most of these instruments lacked robust psychometric properties (Al Nadabi & Mohammed, 2019 ). Theoretical coherence, validity, and reliability are essential characteristics of measurement instruments (Sawyer et al, 2013 ).…”