CEQ-FI – a validated tool for measuring the childbirth experience
Background The Childbirth Experience Questionnaire was developed in Sweden to assess the childbirth experience multidimensionally. It has been translated into many languages and demonstrated to evaluate the childbirth experience reliably. This study aimed to validate the Finnish version of the questionnaire, CEQ-FI.
Methods Four hundred and fifty primiparous women were mailed the questionnaire one month postpartum, and those who returned the questionnaire were mailed it again six weeks postpartum. Background data was collected from patient records.
Results One hundred and seventy-four 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.
Conclusions The CEQ-FI is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the childbirth experience among Finnish-speaking women.