Overview

The scale measures the extent to which mothers perceive themselves to be a competent mother. It was adapted from Parenting Sense of Competence Scale and the Parenting Self-Agency Measure.

Scoring and Interpretation

Six items coded on 5-point Likert Scale (from 1 = low self-efficacy and 5 = high self-efficacy); score calculated as mean of 6 responses. Score range: 1–5. Higher score reflects greater mothering self-efficacy. Note in the survey tool there are 8 mothering self-efficacy questions numbered N01.1-N01.8. In their analysis, two of the items did not load well on the composite scale (with both factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha). As a result N01.3 and N01.5 were excluded from the scale and final analyses, resulting in 6 items.

Citation

Matare, Cynthia R., Mduduzi NN Mbuya, Gretel Pelto, Katherine L. Dickin, and Rebecca J. Stoltzfus. 2015. "Assessing Maternal Capabilities in the SHINE Trial: Highlighting a Hidden Link in the Causal Pathway to Child Health." Clinical Infectious Diseases 61 (suppl_7): S745-S751.

Context and Applications to Child Nutrition

Zimbabwe 
Matare, Cynthia R., Mduduzi NN Mbuya, Gretel Pelto, Katherine L. Dickin, and Rebecca J. Stoltzfus. 2015. "Assessing Maternal Capabilities in the SHINE Trial: Highlighting a Hidden Link in the Causal Pathway to Child Health." Clinical Infectious Diseases 61(suppl_7): S745-S751.

Tome, Joice, Mduduzi NN Mbuya, Rachel R. Makasi, Robert Ntozini, Andrew J. Prendergast, Katherine L. Dickin, Gretel H. Pelto et al. 2021. "Maternal Caregiving Capabilities Are Associated with Child Linear Growth in Rural Zimbabwe." Maternal & Child Nutrition 17 (2): e13122.

Adaptations

N/A

Formative Research

Pretested using cognitive interviewing techniques among women in rural Zimbabwe.