Myths about Health and Abortion Scale (MHAS): design and psychometric properties in a Chilean community population (Escala de Mitos sobre Salud y Aborto [EMSA]: diseño y propiedades psicométricas en población comunitaria chilena)

Contenido principal del artículo

Beatriz Pérez
Carolina Alveal-Álamos

Resumen

Abstract: Myths about health and abortion in Chile have been identified as a barrier to the implementation of Law 21.030 on the Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy. However, no measure adapted to the Chilean socio-cultural reality with adequate psychometric properties would allow us to verify the extent of misinformation. This study aims to design and analyze the psychometric properties of the Myths About Health and Abortion Scale (MHAS) in a Chilean community population. This study presents a sample of 613 participants. We obtained a unidimensional 5-item scale by cross-validity (χ2 = 21.702; df = 4; p < .001); RMSEA = .085 (90% CI [.052, .122]); CFI = .993; TLI = .982; GFI = .995) with adequate reliability of scores in the study sample (Sub-sample 1, McDonald's omega = .871; Sub-sample 2, McDonald's omega = .842); and evidence of validity in relation to other variables (e.g., the MHAS correlates with Sexual Double Standard (r = .354; p < .001), and Group Dominance (r = .307; p < .001), for use on the Chilean population. The most uninformed participants have a low education level, are older, have a conservative ideological profile in terms of religion and politics, and have a higher agreement with sexual double standards and social domination. This new approach allows us to quantify the issue of stigmatization and decision-making faced by women contemplating abortion, as well as to expose the deliberate dissemination of misinformation as a political strategy to oppose permissive abortion legislation.


Keywords: beliefs; voluntary termination of pregnancy; instrument; validity; reliability; misinformation.


Resumen: Los mitos sobre salud y aborto en Chile han sido identificados como una barrera para la implementación de la Ley 21.030 sobre Interrupción Voluntaria del Embarazo. No obstante, no existe una medida adaptada a la realidad sociocultural chilena con adecuadas propiedades psicométricas que nos permita constatar la extensión de la desinformación. Este estudio tiene como objetivo diseñar y analizar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Mitos sobre Salud y Aborto (EMSA) en población comunitaria chilena. Este estudio presenta una muestra de 613 participantes. Como resultado obtuvimos una escala de 5 ítems unidimensional mediante validez cruzada (χ2 = 21,702; gl = 4; p < ,001; RMSEA = ,085 (IC 90% [,052 ,122]); CFI = ,993; TLI = ,982; GFI = ,995); con adecuada fiabilidad de las puntuaciones en la muestra de estudio (submuestra 1, Omega de McDonald = ,871; submuestra 2, Omega de McDonald = ,842); y evidencias de validez en relación con otras variables (p. ej., , EMSA correlaciona con Doble Moral Sexual (r = ,354; p < ,001), y Dominación Grupal (r = ,307; p < ,001) para su uso con población chilena. Las y los participantes más desinformados tienen un bajo nivel educativo, son mayores, un perfil ideológico conservador en lo religioso y lo político, y mayor acuerdo con el doble estándar sexual y la dominación social. Esta nueva herramienta nos brinda la posibilidad de medir una problemática implicada en la estigmatización y toma de decisión de las mujeres que se plantean el acceso al aborto; y de transparentar el uso de la desinformación como estrategia política para desincentivar políticas permisivas sobre el aborto.


Palabras clave: creencias; interrupción voluntaria del embarazo; instrumento; validez; fiabilidad; desinformación.


Resumo: Os mitos sobre saúde e aborto no Chile foram identificados como uma barreira à implementação da Lei 21.030 sobre a Interrupção Voluntária da Gravidez. No entanto, não existe uma medida adaptada à realidade sociocultural chilena com propriedades psicométricas adequadas que nos permita verificar a extensão da desinformação. Este estudo tem como objetivo desenhar e analisar as propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Mitos sobre Saúde e Aborto (EMSA) numa população comunitária chilena. Este estudo apresenta uma amostra de 613 participantes. Como resultado, obtivemos uma escala unidimensional de 5 itens, por validade cruzada (χ2 = 21,702; gl = 4; p < ,001; RMSEA = ,085 (IC 90% [,052 ,122]); CFI = ,993; TLI = ,982; GFI = 995); com fiabilidade adequada das pontuações na amostra do estudo (Subamostra 1, Omega de McDonald = ,871; Subamostra, Omega de McDonald = ,842); e evidência de validade em relação a outras variáveis (por exemplo, o EMSA correlaciona-se com a Moral Sexual Dupla (r = ,354; p < ,001), e a Dominância de Grupo (r = ,307; p < ,001), para uso com a população chilena. Os participantes mais desinformados têm um baixo nível de escolaridade, são mais velhos, têm um perfil ideológico conservador na religião e na política, e têm uma maior concordância com a dupla moral sexual e a dominação social. Esta nova ferramenta dános a possibilidade de medir um problema implicado na estigmatização e na tomada de decisão das mulheres que consideram aceder ao aborto; e de tornar transparente a utilização da desinformação como estratégia política para desencorajar políticas permissivas sobre o aborto.


Palavras-chave: crenças; interrupção voluntária da gravidez; instrumento; validade; confiabilidade; desinformação.

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Cómo citar
Pérez, B., & Alveal-Álamos, C. (2024). Myths about Health and Abortion Scale (MHAS): design and psychometric properties in a Chilean community population (Escala de Mitos sobre Salud y Aborto [EMSA]: diseño y propiedades psicométricas en población comunitaria chilena). Ibero-American Journal of Psychology and Public Policy, 1(2), 175–202. https://doi.org/10.56754/2810-6598.2024.0015
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