Validation of the Vulvovaginal Symptom Questionnaire in Indonesian Women with Postmenopausal Syndrome using Confirmatory Factor Analysis

<ns3:p>Background Vulvovaginal symptoms are prevalent among postmenopausal women, negatively affecting quality of life and sexual function. Despite the widespread use of the Vulvovaginal Symptom Questionnaire (VSQ) to assess these symptoms, it has not been validated for use in Indonesia. Aim This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Indonesian version of the VSQ. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional study was designed and conducted in Jakarta, Indonesia. A total of 95 postmenopausal women were recruited using convenience sampling. Participants were required to be capable of reading, writing, and speaking Indonesian, with a history of mental health disorders as an exclusion criterion. The VSQ underwent a systematic forward and back-translation process to ensure linguistic accuracy. Validity was assessed using the confirmatory factor analysis. Findings The Indonesian version of the VSQ using confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good model fit, with RMSEA = 0.054, CFI = 0.386, and TLI = 0.267. Discussion Validating the VSQ in an Indonesian context addresses a significant gap in the assessment of vulvovaginal symptoms among postmenopausal women. This study ensures the tool’s cultural and contextual relevance, providing a reliable and valid instrument for clinical and research applications in Indonesia. Conclusion The Indonesian version of the VSQ is a valid instrument for assessing vulvovaginal symptoms in postmenopausal women. This validated tool can improve symptom assessment, guide interventions, and enhance quality of life in this population.</ns3:p>