Translation, cultural adaptation, and psychometric validation of the Female Sexual Function Index to Lebanese Arabic (FSFI-LB).

BACKGROUND

The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is widely used to assess female sexual function, but its applicability in Lebanon is limited due to linguistic and cultural barriers.

AIM: This study aimed to develop and validate a Lebanese Arabic version of the FSFI (FSFI-LB) to improve accessibility for clinical and research use.

METHODS

A study was conducted with 119 Lebanese women between April 2023 and June 2024 at Hôtel-Dieu de France Hospital, Beirut. The FSFI was translated, back-translated, and psychometrically validated using exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability, and factor correlations.

OUTCOMES: The FSFI-LB showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.973) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.9997), with a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value of 0.925 and significant Bartlett's test of sphericity (P < .001). Test-retest reliability was assessed in a subsample of 42 participants after 4 weeks and demonstrated high consistency across all domains (r > 0.99) and total scale reliability (r = 0.9997).

RESULTS

A six-factor model was retained for the FSFI-LB, aligning with the original FSFI, with the pain domain showing the weakest correlations with other domains. The questionnaire included English translations alongside Arabic terms for improved comprehension.

CLINICAL TRANSLATION: The FSFI-LB is a reliable tool for assessing female sexual function in Lebanon, ensuring cultural and linguistic sensitivity for diverse populations.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The study's strengths include robust psychometric validation and the adaptation of a widely used instrument. The limitations include the focus on a specific Lebanese population, which may limit generalizability to other Arabic-speaking communities.

CONCLUSION

The FSFI-LB is a valid and reliable tool for assessing female sexual function, contributing to the development of culturally appropriate measures in sexual health research and clinical practice.