Background and purpose: Childbirth can have negative consequences; however, measurement tools to assess this event are limited; and none consider the adolescent's birth. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the childbirth trauma index (CTI).
Methods: Construct validity and reliability of the CTI was assessed via a field test involving 160 adolescents 3 days postpartum.
Results: A modified 8-item version of the original CTI exhibited acceptable construct validity and reliability criteria. The CTI was found to link with birth appraisal, but not subjective distress measurements.
Conclusions: The CTI may be a more robust means of assessing birth appraisal than use of single-item measures. Recommendations for practice suggest use of the modified CTI to assess birth appraisal, or use in combination with single-item rating scales.
Keywords: adolescents; childbirth experience; measurement tool; psychometrics.
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