Development and psychometric testing of the Perception of Childbirth Environment Scale in Taiwan

Background

Previous research has shown that women's perceptions of their childbirth environment are critical in ensuring that they feel supported and in facilitating physiological childbirth.

Aim

To develop and validate the Perception of Childbirth Environment Scale (PCES) for expectant mothers.

Methods

The PCES was developed based on findings from a scoping review and a qualitative study on childbirth environments conducted by the authors. The scale underwent expert review to ensure relevance, clarity, and content validity, followed by face validity testing with five women. A total of 193 participants, recruited from two medical institutions, completed the PCES within 48 h after childbirth. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's α for internal consistency. Construct validity was evaluated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.

Results

The PCES comprised 10 items divided into two dimensions: comfort and control. “Comfort” factors included privacy, homeliness, familiarity, relaxation facilitation, and a sense of continuity in the room, while “Control” factors were reflected in elements like a birth companion, empowerment, and safety. The model demonstrated a good fit following exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, as well as adjustments based on modification indices.

Conclusions

The PCES displayed strong reliability and validity, making it a suitable tool for assessing women's perceptions of their labor and childbirth environment.