[Women's satisfaction with the experience of childbirth: validation of the Mackey Childbirth Satisfaction Rating Scale]

Objectives: To determine the reliability and the content and construct validity of the Mackey Childbirth Satisfaction Rating Scale to measure women's satisfaction with labor and delivery.

Methods: The translation-back translation method was used to obtain an adapted version of the scale. For the validation study, a sample of 325 women who had delivered a healthy neonate through the vaginal route was selected. Data collection was performed using a self-administered questionnaire that included the modified scale, childbirth expectations, obstetric variables and sociodemographic characteristics. Reliability was assessed in a subsample of 45 women who completed the scale for the second time 15-30 days later. The factorial structure and internal consistency of the scale were analyzed. Construct validity was evaluated by analyzing the relationship between satisfaction with the experience, fulfillment of expectations and preferences regarding pain management.

Results: In the test-retest study, an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.93 was obtained for the total scale. Factor analysis identified six factors that explained 69.42% of the variance. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.94 for the total scale, ranging from 0.72 to 0.96 for the subscales. Satisfaction with the experience of childbirth was higher among women whose expectations were met and among those who accessed the pain relief method chosen.

Conclusions: This scale is a useful instrument to measure women's satisfaction with the experience of childbirth, adapted to our context and with good psychometric properties.