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

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.