Abstract
BackgroundChildbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) was developed in Sweden to assess the childbirth experience in multiple dimensions. It has been translated and validated in English, Spanish, Chinese and Persian with the aim to evaluate childbirth experience reliably. This study aimed to validate the Finnish version of the questionnaire, CEQ-FI.MethodsPrimiparous women who had given birth in Tampere University Hospital between January and May 2019 were included in the study. Women planning a cesarean delivery, delivering preterm, or women whose children were transferred to neonatal care were excluded. Eligible 450 women were mailed the questionnaire one month postpartum, and those who completed the questionnaire were mailed it again six weeks postpartum. Test-retest reliability was evaluated by computing kappa coefficients for the two responses. Background data was collected from patient records and used to perform known-groups validation. Internal consistency was assessed by calculating Cronbach’s alpha.ResultsOne hundred seventy-five women returned the questionnaire. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were good. Women with known risk factors for a negative childbirth experience scored lower in the questionnaire, as expected.ConclusionCEQ-FI is a valid and reliable instrument in measuring childbirth experience also among Finnish-speaking women.