Development and psychometric evaluation of a Risky Sexual Behaviour Scale for Married Women (RSBS-MW) in Iran: a...

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Psychometrics
• Sociology

Background:

• Lack of a validated, culture-specific scale for assessing risky sexual behaviors in married Iranian women.
• Importance of understanding sexual health within the socio-cultural context of Iran.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and psychometrically test a culture-based scale for evaluating risky sexual behaviors among married Iranian women.
• To provide a reliable instrument for healthcare providers to assess sexual health risks in this population.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-method sequential exploratory design (qualitative followed by quantitative).
• Qualitative phase: 16 interviews and 10 focus groups (n=100) to define risky sexual behavior.
• Quantitative phase: Psychometric testing (validity and reliability) of the developed 27-item scale (RSBS-MW) with 400 married women.

Main Results:

• The six-component Risky Sexual Behaviour Scale for Married Women (RSBS-MW) explained 57.49% of the variance.
• The scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.94) and stability (ICC = 0.98).
• Identified components include quality of sexual relations, unusual pleasures, sexual coercion, verbal violence, self-care, and concealment.

Conclusions:

• The 27-item RSBS-MW is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing risky sexual behaviors in married Iranian women.
• This scale can be utilized by healthcare professionals to identify and address sexual health concerns.
• The findings contribute to culturally sensitive sexual health research and practice in Iran.