Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Sexuality plays an important role in quality of life, and the postpartum period may negatively affect women's sexual function. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Sexual Quality of Life - Female (SQoL-F) for use for use in Brazilian women in the postpartum period. METHODS: The original version of the SQoL-F was translated and back translated by four independent sworn translators. A sample of 125 women in the late postpartum phase participated in the cultural adaptation (n=30) and convergent validation (n=95) phases. For the latter, the instrument was compared with the Brazilian version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). To assess reproducibility, 25 of the 95 women who participated in the validation phase completed the SQoL-F twice, at different times (two interviewers administered the SQoL-F, 15 to 20 days apart). RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha was 0.905 (intraclass correlation=0.974; 95%CI: 0.943-0.988; p<0.001). Significant, moderate, positive correlations were observed between the SQoL-F score and the FSFI total score (r=0.572; p<0.001) and domains 'Desire' (r=0.502; p<0.001), 'Arousal' (r =0.576; p<0.001), and 'Satisfaction' (r=0.637; p<0.001). Excellent reproducibility was obtained for the SQoL-F score (intraclass correlation=0.974; 95%; CI: 0.943-0.988; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The SQoL-F was adapted to the cultural context of Brazilian postpartum women, proved reproducible, and exhibited face, content, and construct validity.