Abstract:

Objective: The study was conducted to develop a valid and reliable scale in order to measure the attitudes of prospective fathers toward participation in birth. Methods: The research was conducted in a private hospital in Ankara. Three hundred nine fathers who were admitted to the outpatient clinic of a private hospital, who had no communication problems, who would become fathers for the first time, and who did not have any complications during the pregnancy of their spouse were included in the study. The research data were collected face to face. Both the content (content validity index) and construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis) of the attitude scale developed towards participation in birth for fathers candidates were examined. In reliability analysis, internal consistency (Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient) and item analysis were used. Results: The mean age of the father candidates participating in the study was 31.37 ± 3.69 years. The content validity index was calculated as 0.84 in line with the expert opinions regarding the items in the scale. As a result of the exploratory factor analysis, a 26-item scale with 3 factors was reached. All factors explain 65.352% of the total variance. As a result of confirmatory factor analysis, performed after exploratory factor analysis, it was found that χ2 /df=1.99 (P=.000), Root MeSquared Error of Approximation (RMSEA)=0,080; Normed Fit Index (NFI)=0,94; Non-normed Fit Index (NNFI)=0,96; Comparative Fit Index (CFI)=0,97; Standardized Root Mean Squared Residual (SRMR)=0,075. It was determined that the model was acceptable with data and fit. It was determined that the Cronbach alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale was 0.96 and the test–retest reliability coefficient was 0.82. Conclusion: It was determined that the “Attitude Scale towards Participation in Birth for Father Candidates” is a valid and reliable tool for the father candidates. It was determined that the scale developed in this direction can be used to determine the attitudes of future fathers toward participation in birth during pregnancy.

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