Translation and cultural adaptation of the Mother-Generated Index into Brazilian Portuguese: A postnatal quality of life study.
OBJECTIVE
quality of life issues are central to maternal health and well-being. Within the context of a study examining postnatal quality of life, we set out to translate into Brazilian Portuguese the Mother-Generated Index and ensure its cross-cultural adaption for use in a Brazilian context.


METHODS
the Mother-Generated Index, a subjective quality of life tool, underwent a validated process of translation and cultural adaptation: synthesis of two independently translated versions, back-translation and review by an expert committee was followed by testing of the preliminary tool with 30 mothers.


METHODS
community-based study in city in north-eastern Brazil.


METHODS
30 postpartum mothers, interviewed approximately 30 days after birth.


RESULTS
while the mothers understood the concept of identifying and scoring quality of life aspects, many did not grasp the concept behind the use of 'spending points' to produce a relative ranking of these aspects. We resolved this by giving the mothers 'spending beans' instead; beans are a regional food staple. This use of a physical 'currency' solved the problem.


CONCLUSIONS
this modified approach was ratified by the committee of experts and used with success on a further sample of 91 mothers. The whole process aimed to ensure semantic equivalence of the translated tool, and following this process we concluded that face validity of the Brazilian Portuguese Mother-Generated Index was good. While considerable resources are required to ensure a robust process of translation and adaptation, this is necessary if valid and reliable tools are to be produced.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the Mother-Generated Index is a valid tool to measure quality of life among Brazilian postpartum mothers, as it allows a simple and understandable way of assessing the various dimensions involved in their quality of life. Moreover, the Mother-Generated Index can provide healthcare professionals the opportunity to become aware of all significant aspects of a woman's life after childbirth.
Universidade Federal do Ceará. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Electronic address: samilaribeiro@yahoo.com.br.
Samila Gomes
SG
Ribeiro
Mother and Infant Research Unit, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HJ, Scotland UK. Electronic address: a.g.symon@dundee.ac.uk.
Andrew Graham
AG
Symon
Universidade Federal do Ceará. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Electronic address: paularenatal@yahoo.com.br.
Paula Renata Amorim
PR
Lessa
Maternidade Escola Assis Chateubriand, Ceará, Brazil. Electronic address: mirnafontenele@yahoo.com.br.
Mirna Fontenele
MF
de Oliveira
Department of Nursing, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Electronic address: priscilapetenf@gmail.com.
Priscila de Souza
Pde S
Aquino
Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Electronic address: pc49almeida@gmail.com.
Paulo César
PC
de Almeida
Department of Nursing, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Electronic address: anakarinaufc@hotmail.com.
Ana Karina Bezerra
AK
Pinheiro
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001938:Brazil; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068101:Maternal-Child Health Services; D008880:Midwifery; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D036801:Parturition / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations
Brazil; Cultural adaptation; Postnatal; Quality of life; Questionnaire; Translation