Psychometric evaluation of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 in women with potentially life-threatening maternal conditions during the immediate postpartum period: A cross-sectional study

Background The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) is a widely used instrument for assessing functioning and disability across various health conditions. However, there is limited research on its validation in the context of potentially life-threatening maternal conditions. Objective To validate the Tigrigna version of WHODAS 2.0 in women with potentially life-threatening maternal conditions during the immediate postpartum period. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in hospitals in Tigray, Ethiopia. The Tigrigna version of the WHODAS 2.0 was administered to 121 women with potentially life-threatening maternal conditions. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha, convergent validity was preliminarily assessed using Spearman’s correlation, and construct validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. Result The 36-item Tigrigna version showed adequate internal consistency for all domain scores, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.89 to 0.96 and a summary score Cronbach’s alpha of 0.98. Except for Domains 1 and 2, convergent validity between the 36-item and 12-item versions was demonstrated by strong correlations between similar constructs, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.86 to 0.96. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a poor or suboptimal fit for the six-domain model, with a root mean square error of approximation of 0.13, a comparative fit index of 0.84, and a Tucker–Lewis index of 0.82. Conclusion This preliminary validation suggests that the Tigrigna version of WHODAS 2.0 demonstrates acceptable reliability and validity for assessing disability in women with a history of potentially life-threatening maternal conditions.