Multidimensional health locus of control scales: applicability among Ghanaian adolescents.
BACKGROUND
Primary preventive approaches are likely to be more effective if the motivational factors of health behaviours are known. Beliefs about control over health outcomes are among the most important motivational factors, commonly assessed with the multidimensional health locus of control scale (MHLC).


OBJECTIVE
To examine the validity, reliability and cross-cultural correspondence of the MHLC scales among Ghanaian adolescents.


METHODS
Cross-sectional questionnaire survey.


METHODS
Secondary schools in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya district of Ghana, 1998.


METHODS
The analysis is based on 504 secondary school children constituting a response rate of 86%.


METHODS
Non-intervention study.


METHODS
The MHLC score comprising beliefs in own control over health, beliefs in provider control over health and beliefs in chance health outcomes.


RESULTS
Fifty per cent urban and 48% rural pupils recorded health as an important issue. More than 90% of the participants were correctly informed regarding oral health consequences of tooth cleaning, tobacco smoking and sugar consumption. Exploratory factor analysis gave two sub-factors of the MHLC corresponding to internal and provider control over health and having internal consistency reliability of 0.72 and 0.76, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The results lend support to the cultural correspondence of the MHLC instrument, several aspects of its validity and internal consistency reliability.
Astrøm
A N
AN
Department of Odontology, Community Dentistry, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway.
Blay
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results