Construct validity and internal consistency of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression screening measure translated into two Ugandan languages

• Published in: Psychiatry Research Communications 2021-12, Vol.1 (2), p.100002, Article 100002
• Main Authors: Miller, Amanda P., Espinosa da Silva, Cristina, Ziegel, Leo, Mugamba, Stephen, Kyasanku, Emma, Bulamba, Robert M., Wagman, Jennifer A., Ekström, Anna Mia, Nalugoda, Fred, Kigozi, Grace, Nakigozi, Gertrude, Kagaayi, Joseph, Watya, Stephen, Kigozi, Godfrey
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Factor analysis; Luganda; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Reliability; Runyoro; Sub-Saharan Africa
• ISSN: 2772-5987; 2772-5987
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psycom.2021.100002

In Uganda, depression is a major public health issue. Psychometric assessment of translated depression measures is critical to public health planning to ensure proper screening, surveillance, and treatment of depression and related outcomes. We examined aspects of the validity and reliability of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) translated into Luganda and Runyoro among Ugandan adolescents and adults. Data from the ongoing AMBSO Population Health Surveillance study were analyzed from the Wakiso and Hoima districts in Uganda. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the overall sample and stratified by translated language. Construct validity was assessed for each translated scale using confirmatory factor analysis for ordinal data. The internal consistency of each translated scale was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega total and omega hierarchical. Both the Luganda- and Runyoro-translated PHQ-9 had similar sample means (3.46 [SD ​= ​3.26] and 3.58 [SD ​= ​3.00], respectively), supported a single-factor structure, and demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha of 0.73 and 0.72, respectively). Our preliminary findings indicate that the Luganda and Runyoro translations of the PHQ-9 had satisfactory construct validity and internal consistency in our sample. Future studies should expand on this promising work by assessing additional psychometric characteristics of these translated measures in other communities in Uganda. •Psychometric assessment of depression measures critical to public health planning.•Conducted first assessment of performance of Runyoro-translated PHQ-9 in Uganda.•Psychometric performance of the Luganda-translated PHQ-9 also assessed.•PHQ-9 translations had satisfactory internal reliability and construct validity.•Assessment of additional psychometric characteristics of these measures is needed.