The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): Translation, Validation, and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of an Urdu Version...

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a common problem, and many self-report questionnaires are available for its evaluation. Pakistani women with sexual problems feel shy to consult with their physician. A validated self-report questionnaire, in the local language with modest expressions is required for these women.

The aim of this study was to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and perform a psychometric validation of an Urdu translation of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).

The FSFI was translated in Urdu, and its precision was ascertained through reverse translation. It was pretested on 22 bilingual women and refined again to reach at a reliable Urdu version of the questionnaire FSFI-U. One hundred sixteen bilingual women, in a stable sexual relationship over the previous 6 months were finally asked to fill out the FSFI and FSFI-U. Their sexual function was then clinically evaluated and responses were compared with the clinical assessment as well as with each other.

The responses were analyzed through descriptive statistics for reliability, face validity, agreement between the responses to the original English version and to the FSFI-U, and also for test-retest consistency. The data were analyzed statistically using Cronbach's alpha analysis, Intraclass correlation coefficients, Pearson correlation, and Student's t-test.

FSFI was found to be easily understandable and capable of adequately evaluating and measuring various aspects of female sexual function. A high degree of internal consistency was demonstrated on Cronbach's alpha analysis. Cronbach's α coefficient for various domains was sufficiently high ranging from 0.84 to 0.97. The clinical assessment of the presence and severity of FSD also matched with the self-report questionnaire. Similarly, various domains of FSFI had high degree of correlation in the Urdu version of FSFI (P < 0.001).

The Urdu translation version of FSFI is valid and reliable for use in the literate population of Pakistan. Rehman KU, Asif Mahmood M, Sheikh SS, Sultan T, Khan MA. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): Translation, Validation, and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of an Urdu Version "FSFI-U". Sex Med 2015;3:244-250.