Translation and Adaptation of the Existential Breastfeeding Difficulty Scale to Turkish

INTRODUCTION: Existential Breastfeeding Difficulty Scale (ExBreastS) evaluates mothers who interrupt or terminate breastfeeding because of existential difficulties. Aim of the study was to adapt the scale for Turkish.
METHODS: This methodological study was carried out between December 2021 and February 2022 in the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of a hospital in the west of Turkey. The study sample consisted of 139 mothers who fulfilling the study inclusion criteria. The data were obtained using a breastfeeding experience information form and the ExBreastS - Turkish form. Language adaptation and content validity, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis were performed to determine the validity of the scale, and internal consistency coefficient, item–total score correlation, split-half reliability, and test-retest analyzes were carried out to establish the reliability of the scale.
RESULTS: An exploratory factor analysis showed that the instrument had a 3-factor construction with appropriate factor loads of the items (0.58–0.85). In addition, results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that model fit indices of the instrument met the target values. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.87, and the item–total score correlations ranged from 0.35 to 0.77. The test-retest correlation coefficient was 0.90 (p < 0.001) and the Spearman–Brown reliability coefficient was 0.79.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the ExBreastS evaluated in Turkish women showed that it was a valid and reliable measurement instrument after necessary corrections.