The Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised Indicator (BBSRI): Hausa Adaptation, Validation, and Reliability Study Among Nigerian Mothers

INTRODUCTION: Childbirth is a pivotal life event, with the quality of care during this period significantly impacting a woman's short and long-term physical and emotional well-being, as well as her baby's health. Intrapartum care, provided by midwives and obstetricians plays a crucial role in maternal experiences and satisfaction. In low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria, the quality of intrapartum care has been a concern, associated with high maternal mortality rates. Ensuring maternal satisfaction with delivery services is emphasized by the World Health Organization as a means to reduce maternal mortality. The Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised Indicator (BSS-RI) is a validated tool to measure birth satisfaction, but its Hausa version's psychometric properties had not been assessed in Nigeria. AIM: To examine the validity and reliability of the Birth Satisfaction Scale – Revised Indicator (BSS-RI) and to adapt it to Hausa language. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano, Nigeria, involving postpartum women. The sample size was 422 respondents, selected using a simple random sampling technique. The BSS-RI, comprising 6 items, was translated into Hausa and validated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. RESULTS: The study revealed that the Hausa version of the BSS-RI had good face and content validity, with a content validity index (CVI) of 1.0, indicating excellent clarity and relevance of items. Construct validity was established through exploratory factor analysis, revealing a 2-factor structure, explaining 51.40% of total variance. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy (KMO) was calculated to be 0.683. Additionally, Bartlett's Test of Sphericity was statistically significant. Convergent validity was demonstrated by a strong, positive correlation between BSSRI scores and satisfaction of women with intrapartum care, which was statistically significant (r = 0.901, p =.005). Divergent validity was demonstrated by the very weak positive correlation (r = 0.059, p =.725) between BSS-RI scores and the number of antenatal visits. The internal consistency reliability of the Hausa BSS-RI was high, with a Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.763. CONCLUSION: The study established that the Hausa version of the BSS-RI is a valid and reliable tool for measuring birth satisfaction among postpartum women in Kano, Nigeria. This instrument can contribute to improving maternal care and ultimately reduce maternal mortality in low- and middle-income settings like Nigeria. RECOMMENDATION: The study recommends incorporation of the Hausa BSS-RI into routine maternal care services, as it provides a valuable tool to monitor and enhance the quality of care, promote positive birthing experiences, and contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality rates in Nigeria.