Psychometric properties of the Postpartum Women Health Quotient Scale among Chinese post partum women.
OBJECTIVE
to examine the psychometric properties of a newly developed Postpartum Women's Health Quotient Scale (PWHQS) for Chinese post partum women.


METHODS
a cross-sectional survey of post partum women was conducted.Categorical confirmatory factor analysis (CCFA) models were applied to examine the factorial structure of the PWHQS; test information function (TIF) was used to examine reliability of PWHQS subscales; and measurement invariance was examined by testing differential item functioning (DIF) using a multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) model.


METHODS
two large hospitals with a level 3A designation in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.


METHODS
a convenience sample of 395 post partum women was recruited from April to September 2014.


METHODS
the PWHQS consists of 31 items with 5 subscales: health consciousness (HC, 6 items), maternal health knowledge (MHK, 8 items), infant health knowledge (IHK, 6 items), maternal health care ability (MHCA, 5 items), and infant health care ability (IHCA, 6 items).


RESULTS
PWHQS has a valid factorial structure with five dimensions as theoretically designed. Each of its subscales has adequate reliability that is particularly high over the lower-moderate range of the factor score scale. Measurement non-invariance in PWHQS is very limited as only two of the 31 items displayed DIF related to one grouping variable (Age).


CONCLUSIONS
PWHQS is a valid and reliable instrument that can be readily used as a screening tool to assess health quotient (HQ) among Chinese post partum women. PWHQS will also be useful for the development of interventions to help post partum women maintain and improve maternal and infant health. Further research to confirm the findings of the present study is desirable.
The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No.188 Shizi Street, Suzhou 215006, China; School of Nursing, Soochow University, No.1 Shizi Street, Suzhou 215006, China.
Shen-Xian
SX
Wan
The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No.188 Shizi Street, Suzhou 215006, China; School of Nursing, Soochow University, No.1 Shizi Street, Suzhou 215006, China. Electronic address: lhl8543@126.com.
Hui-Ling
HL
Li
The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No.188 Shizi Street, Suzhou 215006, China.
Wei
W
Wang
The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No.188 Shizi Street, Suzhou 215006, China.
Qian
Q
Shen
School of Nursing, Soochow University, No.1 Shizi Street, Suzhou 215006, China.
Chun-Hui
CH
Li
Center for Transitional Sciences, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20010, USA; School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, 2121 I Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20052, USA.
Maureen E
ME
Lyon
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Purdue University, 101 N. Grant St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Brian C
BC
Kelly
Center for Transitional Sciences, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20010, USA; Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, George Washington University, 2121 I Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20052, USA.
Jichuan
J
Wang
D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Categorical confirmatory factor analysis; China; Health quotient; Post partum; Psychometric property