Psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy in women with pregnancies ending in birth

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 13; no. 4; p. e0194033
• Main Authors: Goossens, Joline, Verhaeghe, Sofie, Van Hecke, Ann, Barrett, Geraldine, Delbaere, Ilse, Beeckman, Dimitri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 18.04.2018; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Analysis; Behavior; Biology and Life Sciences; Birth; Birth control; Childbirth & labor; Childrens health; Cognitive ability; Cognitive interviews; Consistency; Correlation; Domestic violence; Health aspects; Life assessment; Medicine and Health Sciences; Midwifery; Nursing; People and Places; Physical Sciences; Planning; Pregnancy; Pregnant women; Principal components analysis; Properties (attributes); Psychometrics; Public health; Quantitative psychology; Reliability analysis; Research and Analysis Methods; Social Sciences; Stability analysis; Studies; Translation (Languages); Validity; Women; Womens health; Belgium; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; Europe
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194033

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy in women with pregnancies ending in birth. A two-phase psychometric evaluation design was set-up. Phase I comprised the translation from English into Dutch and pretesting with 6 women using cognitive interviews. In phase II, the reliability and validity of the Dutch version of the LMUP was assessed in 517 women giving birth recently. Reliability (internal consistency) was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, inter-item correlations, and corrected item-total correlations. Construct validity was assessed using principal components analysis and hypothesis testing. Exploratory Mokken scale analysis was carried out. 517 women aged 15-45 completed the Dutch version of the LMUP. Reliability testing showed acceptable internal consistency (alpha = 0.74, positive inter-item correlations between all items, all corrected item-total correlations >0.20). Validity testing confirmed the unidimensional structure of the scale and all hypotheses were confirmed. The overall Loevinger's H coefficient was 0.57, representing a 'strong' scale. The Dutch version of the LMUP is a reliable and valid measure that can be used in the Dutch-speaking population in Belgium to assess pregnancy planning. Future research is necessary to assess the stability of the Dutch version of the LMUP, and to evaluate its psychometric properties in women with abortions.