Psychometric properties of the Mackey Childbirth Satisfaction Rating Scale cross-culturally adapted to Brazilian Portuguese

Objective: To analyze the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of Mackey Childbirth Satisfaction Rating Scale (MCSRS). Methods: The MCSRS questionnaire was applied to postpartum mothers before discharge at low-risk maternity hospital in Brazil. The inclusion criteria were maternal age between 18 and 34 years, delivery of a live infant, and gestational age at birth over 36 weeks. In analyzing psychometric properties, dimensionality was evaluated by exploratory factor analysis and reliability by Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. Results: Fifty-three questionnaires were filled out by the postpartum mothers for an analysis of psychometric properties. Of the participants, 84.9% had vaginal deliveries; and 58.5% had deliveries by obstetricians and 41.5% by midwives. Two latent dimensions model was significantly better than those obtained with the single-factor model (Dc233 = 145.9, p < .001). The first dimension explains 35% of the variance related to the items covering care giving, and the second explains 17% of the variance related to self-satisfaction and satisfaction with the partner. High communality was found for factor 1 (0.36-0.71) and factor 2 (0.28-0.50). For factors 1 and 2, Cronbach's alpha was 0.96 and 0.92, and McDonalds' omega was 0.96 and 0.89, respectively. The reliability coefficient omega for the overall reliability of the questionnaire was 0.97. Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the MCSRS yielded two dimensions related to professional care giving and family. This version demonstrated good reliability and is thus a potential instrument to promote improvement of childbirth care in the country. Nonetheless, confirmation of the structural model of the tool should be sought.