1. Home
  2. Vol 29, No 5 (2025)
  3. Makumbi

Translation and cultural adaptation of the FertiQoL questionnaire into Luganda: A comprehensive report

Douglas Makumbi(1), Anthony Kayiira(2), Gilbert Tumwine(3), Romano N. Byaruhanga(4), Daniel Zaake(5),


(1) Uganda Martyrs University, Mother Kevin Postgraduate Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Kampala, Uganda
(2) Uganda Martyrs University, Mother Kevin Postgraduate Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Kampala, Uganda. Lifesure Fertility and Gynecology Centre, Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Kampala, Uganda. Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital, Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Kampala, Uganda
(3) Uganda Martyrs University, Mother Kevin Postgraduate Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Kampala, Uganda
(4) Uganda Martyrs University, Mother Kevin Postgraduate Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Kampala, Uganda
(5) Uganda Martyrs University, Mother Kevin Postgraduate Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Kampala, Uganda. Lifesure Fertility and Gynecology Centre, Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Kampala, Uganda. Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
Corresponding Author

Abstract


The FertiQoL questionnaire is globally recognized to assess quality of life (QoL) among infertile individuals. To make this tool accessible to Luganda-speaking populations in Uganda, it was necessary to translate the questionnaire into Luganda, ensuring cultural relevance and linguistic accuracy. The translation process followed a rigorous forward-backward translation methodology. Two separate translations were performed by native Luganda speakers. The unified version was translated back into English to find discrepancies. Experts validated the translated questionnaire, showing high agreement on most items, confirming its cultural and linguistic suitability. The translated questionnaire was pilot tested on 20 infertile patients at St. Francis Nsambya Hospital to assess the clarity and comprehensibility. The pilot study indicated that most items were understood, with no significant difficulties reported. However, four items required minor modifications. The Luganda FertiQoL questionnaire effectively measures the quality of life in individuals experiencing infertility in Uganda.

References


Mascarenhas MN, Flaxman SR, Boerma T, Vanderpoel S

and Stevens GA. National, regional, and globaltrends

in infertility prevalence since 1990: A systematic

analysis of 277 health surveys. PLoS medicine

;9(12):e1001356,

doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001356

Practice Committee of the American Society for

Reproductive Medicine. Definitions of infertility and

recurrent pregnancy loss: A committee opinion.

Fertility and sterility 2013;99(1):63, doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.09.023

Sajjabi AT. Message from the government of uganda.

ESHRE

Monographs

doi:10.1093/humrep/den173

;2008(1):113-114,

Boivin J, Bunting L, Collins JA and Nygren KG.

International estimates of infertility prevalence and

treatment-seeking: Potential need and demand for

infertility

medical care. Human reproduction

(Oxford,

England)

doi:10.1093/humrep/dem046

;22(6):1506-12,

Vander Borght M and Wyns C. Fertility and infertility:

Definition and epidemiology. Clinical biochemistry

;62(2-10,

doi:10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2018.03.012

Kudesia R, Muyingo M, Tran N, Shah M, Merkatz I and

Klatsky P. Infertility in uganda: A missed

opportunity to improve reproductive knowledge and

health. Global Reproductive Health 2018;3(4):e24,

Boivin J, Takefman J and Braverman A. The fertility quality

of life (fertiqol) tool: Development and general

psychometric properties. Human reproduction

(Oxford, England)

doi:10.1093/humrep/der171

;26(8):2084-91,

Aarts JW, van Empel IW, Boivin J, Nelen WL, Kremer JA

and Verhaak CM. Relationship between quality of

life and distress in infertility: A validation study of

the dutch fertiqol. Human reproduction (Oxford,

England) 2011;26(5):1112-8,

doi:10.1093/humrep/der051

Dolnicar S and Grün B. Cross‐cultural differences in survey

response patterns. International Marketing Review

;24(2):127-143,

doi:10.1108/02651330710741785

Uganda Bureau of Statistics. The national population and

housing census 2014 Uganda Bureau of Statistics:

Kampala, Uganda 2016.

Son J. Back translation as a documentation tool. Translation

& Interpreting: The International Journal of

Translation and 2018;10(2):89-100.


Full Text: PDF

Article Metrics

Abstract View : 486 times
PDF Download : 231 times

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.