Using RASCH analysis to evaluate anxiety assessment instruments In Postpartum Mothers

Abstract

Globally, an estimated 20% of women who give birth experience postpartum anxiety. Women, after childbirth, require both physical and psychological adaptation. If not treated immediately, postpartum mothers can experience different levels of anxiety. Anxiety in postpartum mothers can harm both mother and baby. Therefore, health workers need to detect anxiety immediately. This assessment (Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale), or PSAS, helps health workers assess anxiety in postpartum mothers starting from the beginning of the puerperium. However, this measuring instrument needs to be evaluated to assess its use. A Rasch analysis is needed to accurately picture postpartum maternal anxiety. It is considered to have the ability to enhance the accuracy of statistical analysis results and increase measurement precision. This research aims to analyze the postpartum maternal anxiety assessment instrument using Rasch analysis. This study used a descriptive method with a cross-sectional research design involving 36 spontaneous postpartum mothers. The Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale (PSAS) is the instrument used in this study. According to the results of analysis using the Winsteps program, it is known that there are 34 out of 51 items that meet the item-model accuracy index, with an alpha coefficient of 0.94. The instrument’s separation item index has a value of 3.06. The unexplained variance value does not exceed 15%, so this instrument is ideal for use. Overall, it can be concluded that the anxiety assessment scale for postpartum mothers, namely PSAS, has good psychometric properties for assessment and research.