Stigmatizing attitudes, beliefs, and actions scale toward abortion: a Turkish validity and reliability study

Abstract

In this methodological study, the researchers aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Stigmatizing Attitudes, Beliefs, and Actions Scale (SABAS) toward abortion, which is an 18-item Likert-type scale. It is important to determine the views and attitudes of individuals toward abortion in reducing stigma toward abortion. The sample consisted of 243 university students in Turkey who met the inclusion criteria of the study. The data were collected between July and October 2020 using a personal information form and the SABAS. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 and SPSS Amos 24. The mean age of the participants was 20.65 +/- 1.51. The content validity index of SABAS was found as 0.98. The item-total score correlation coefficients of the scale ranged from 0.448 to 0.815. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.907. In the confirmatory factor analysis, the goodness-of-fit indices of the scale showed an acceptable fit. After removing four items of SABAS, it was determined that the 14-item form was valid and reliable in evaluating stigmatizing actions, beliefs, and attitudes toward abortion.