A Scoping Review of Available Scales and Tools Used to Measure Obstetric Violence

ABSTRACT

Aim

To identify and describe instruments used to assess obstetric violence and evaluate their methodological quality and psychometric properties.

Design

A scoping review.

Data Sources

Ten databases [Medline (via PubMed), Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), SinoMed, Wanfang Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database and China Medical Journal Full-text Database] were searched from inception to June 2025.

Methods

Studies focusing on the development or validation of obstetric violence measurement tools were eligible for this review. Methodological quality and psychometric properties were evaluated using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist and criteria.

Results

A total of 19 studies encompassing 25 obstetric violence measurement tools were included. These studies were conducted in 15 countries between 2018 and 2025. The tools targeted postnatal and pregnant women, healthcare providers, students and other populations. Most studies reported data on content validity, structural validity and internal consistency. Limited information was available on cross-cultural validity/measurement invariance, reliability, measurement error, criterion validity, hypotheses testing for construct validity and responsiveness.

Conclusion

This review identified multiple obstetric violence instruments used across diverse populations and settings. Whilst the methodological quality and measurement properties of the included tools were sub-optimal, they nevertheless provide a foundation for the timely assessment of obstetric violence and subsequent research.

Implications for the Profession

Future research should prioritise the establishment of a unified definition of obstetric violence, alongside the development, adaptation and rigorous validation of measurement instruments to enhance their reliability and validity.

Impact

This review underscores the need for maternity care professionals and educators to critically evaluate existing tools for measuring obstetric violence, given their current methodological limitations.

Reporting Method

The PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.