Hindi translation and validation of Ultra Brief peripartum Mental Health Screening Tool (UBPMHST)

The peripartum period presents a critical window for identifying and addressing maternal mental health concerns. However, existing screening tools often face linguistic and cultural barriers when applied in diverse populations especially of LMIC's (low and middle income countries). This validation study aimed to translate and validate an ultra brief, simple, binary-scoring, novel mental health screening tool into Hindi language, evaluating its psychometric properties and cultural relevance among Hindi-speaking women. The scale developed in 2019, includes symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation, which is possibly more feasible and acceptable for use by non-specialist health workers in busy, low-resource primary care settings. However, a Hindi translated, validated version of the scale is not yet available for use among Indian population.

As specified by the World Health organisation, the translation process involved forward and backward translations, expert panel reviews, and pilot testing to ensure linguistic equivalence and cultural appropriateness. Subsequently, the translated tool underwent psychometric validation, including exploratory factor analyses, assessment of reliability and concurrent validity against established screening tool (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression rating scale) in the said population. The study recruited a diverse sample of 194 peripartum women seeking antenatal and postnatal care and treatment from a tertiary care healthcare setting, ensuring representation across socio-demographic variables.

The findings of this study underscore the successful translation and validation of an ultra-brief peripartum mental health screening tool for common mental health disorders into Hindi language, demonstrating its reliability, validity, and clinical relevance among Hindi-speaking women. Face validation and pilot testing confirmed comprehensibility and feasibility for use by non specialist health workers. Clinical relevance of the tool was assessed through psychometric evaluation metrics, including internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.80; P < 0.001), cross language concordance (ICC ≥ 0.7), test retest reliability (ICC = 0.952; P < 0.00), factor structure, content validity (CVI = 0.911), and concurrent validity (Pearson's correlation coefficient 0.67 in ANC/ 0.71in PNC; P < 0.05), thus providing a valuable instrument for identifying peripartum mental health concerns within this population.

Findings elucidated the reliability, validity, and clinical utility of the translated screening tool in screening for peripartum common mental health disorders among Hindi-speaking women, thereby facilitating timely identification and support for maternal mental health concerns.