A preliminary cross-cultural validation of the Hausa version of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the leprosy-adapted Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale in Northern Nigeria

Background There are no reliable and valid tools for the assessment of self-esteem and internalized stigma among the Hausa-speaking population. This study describes the cross-cultural validation of the Hausa version of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (H-RSES) and the leprosy-adapted Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (H-ISMI) scale. Methods The cultural equivalence of the tools was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. A cross-sectional study of 52 individuals with Hansen’s disease from selected communities of Taraba, Northern Nigeria, was carried out to investigate the measurement equivalence of the tools. Results The different components of the cultural equivalence assessment of the H-RSES and H-ISMI scales showed adequate fit with all items identified as important in the context of the population. The Cronbach’s alpha values representing internal consistency were 0.82 and 0.91 for the H-RSES and H-ISMI scales, respectively. The exploratory factor analysis for the H-RSES and H-ISMI scales indicates adequate fit as a unidimensional scale. There was a weak but positive correlation between the mean total scores of the H-RSES and the H-ISMI scales (r = 0.29; p = 0.04), which did not demonstrate construct validity. There were no floor or ceiling effects in the distribution of the H-RSES and the H-ISMI scales. Conclusion The H-RSES and H-ISMI scales had good internal consistency and reliability in assessing self-esteem and stigma among the Hausa-speaking population. Future studies are needed to establish the semantic and operational equivalence of these tools in the study setting.