“Psychometric validation of the Persian pregnancy coercion scale and its implications for reproductive autonomy in Iran”

Pregnancy coercion is a public health issue that affects the mental, sexual, and reproductive health of women and one of the significant factors unintended pregnancies globally, remains understudied in Iran due to the lack of culturally validated assessment tools. This study aimed to psychometrically validate the Persian version of the Pregnancy Coercion Scale (PCS) to address this gap and enhance reproductive health equity in Persian-speaking populations. The Persian PCS demonstrated strong internal consistency (α = 0.85). EFA revealed a two-factor structure—pregnancy coercion and condom manipulation—explaining 57.53% of the variance and these two factors are aligned with the original scale. Content validity indices were robust (CVI: 0.80–1.00; CVR: 0.62–1.00), with no floor/ceiling effects. Significant associations were observed between coercion and lower education, unemployment, and having 1–3 children (p < 0.05), though no links emerged with age or income.