AI Summary of Peer-Reviewed Research
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- ✔ Peer-reviewed source
- ✔ Published in indexed journal
- ✔ No retraction or integrity flags
Overview
This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a nine-item measure assessing lifetime experiences of discrimination in family planning settings. The original measure was developed in 2003 and previously validated with African American women. The current analysis utilized data from the Person-Centered Contraceptive Access Metrics Survey, a nationally representative sample, to assess the scale's validity, reliability, and factorial structure across diverse populations.
Methods and approach
Exploratory factor analysis was conducted using principal axis extraction with Promax rotation on data from 3,059 respondents. Reliability was assessed using coefficient omega. Known-groups validity was tested through weighted linear regression to examine differences in discrimination experiences between racial and ethnic groups. The analysis examined the scale's dimensional structure and psychometric performance in the broader national context.
Key Findings
The analysis identified two factors and retained seven scale items: general healthcare discrimination and stereotype-based discrimination. This factorial structure was consistent with the scale's original 2005 validation. The measure demonstrated strong internal reliability (coefficient omega 0.97) and adequate model fit (TLI = 0.988, RMSEA = 0.066). Known-groups validity testing confirmed that respondents of color reported significantly higher levels of discrimination in family planning settings compared to white respondents, with variations across racial and ethnic subgroups.
Implications
The validated measure provides a psychometrically sound tool for assessing discrimination experiences in reproductive healthcare settings. Its utility extends to quantifying the prevalence of discrimination and examining associations with reproductive healthcare outcomes, contraceptive method preferences, and healthcare access patterns. The measure can facilitate research examining structural and interpersonal barriers to equitable reproductive care.
Disclosure
- Research title: Experiences of discrimination in reproductive healthcare: a psychometric evaluation of a discrimination measure for family planning settings
- Authors: Alina A. Luke, Anu Manchikanti Gómez, Bennett Ah, Melvin Livingston, Jessica M. Sales, Sara K. Redd, Whitney S. Rice
- Institutions: Emory Healthcare, Emory University, Reproductive Biology Associates, University of California, Berkeley
- Publication date: 2026-02-27
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-026-02289-x
- OpenAlex record: View
- Image credit: Photo by ovariancancer1 on Pixabay (Source • License)
- Disclosure: This post was generated by Claude (Anthropic). The original authors did not write or review this post.
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