Psychometric Properties of Iranian Version of Female Sexual Function Index

Sexual problems in women are highly prevalent and frequently are associated with personal distress and impaired quality of life. The aim of the study was the validation of a translated and culturally adapted Iranian version of the FSFI - the IV-FSFI (Iranian Version of the Female Sexual Function Index).Subjects and In this cross-sectional study, 448 women (19 to 54 yr), after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria were eligible for this study. The instrument was translated into Persian, back-translated, and pilot tested to ascertain cultural sensitivity. Construct validity was evaluated by explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency was estimated with Cronbach’s alpha and the average inter-item correlation. In addition, the test-retest reliability of the measure was determined at a 4-week interval (n=362). Discriminant validity was assessed with between-groups analysis of varianceThe overall test-retest reliability coefficients were high for each domain of the IV-FSFI (r ranging from 0.73 to 0.86) and the internal consistencies within the acceptable range (αfrom 0.72 to 0.90). Principal component analysis with varimax rotation revealed a best fitting five-factor structure similar to the original FSFI. CFA confirmed the underlying domain structure, supporting the factorial validity of the IV-FSFI. In conclusion, the newly developed IV-FSFI has demonstrated to be a reliable and valid instrument with good psychometric properties that allows a quick and accurate preliminary screening of women with unknown sexual health status in clinics and others medical settings.