Description

The Fetal Health Locus of Control Scale (FHLC-18) is a scale designed to assess a pregnant woman’s beliefs regarding the control she has over her fetus’s health. This scale consists of 18 questions and focuses on how the expectant mother perceives her influence on the baby’s health, as well as the extent to which she believes external factors can affect the development and health of the fetus.

Analysis and Use of Data

Analysis of data from the FHLC-18 helps in understanding pregnant women’s perceptions of the control they have over their fetus’s health. The scale can be used both in clinical practice and research for:
Behavioral Detection: Identifying how a pregnant woman’s perceptions of fetal health control may influence her behavior during pregnancy.
Health Interventions: Guiding interventions and educational programs aimed at promoting positive health behaviors during pregnancy.

Purpose

The main purpose of the FHLC-18 scale is to assess how pregnant women perceive control over their fetus’s health. This can help identify their needs for education and support during pregnancy to promote positive behaviors for fetal health.

Scoring

The scale uses a Likert scale to evaluate participants’ responses. Each question is rated on a scale from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate a stronger belief that fetal health is influenced by internal or external factors. The analysis of these scores provides insights into the level of control the pregnant woman feels she has over her baby’s health.

Bibliography

Wallston, K. A., Wallston, B. S., & DeVellis, R. (1978). Development of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scales. Health Education Monographs, 6(2), 160-170
Lau, R. R., & Ware, J. E. (1981). Refinement in the measurement of health-specific locus of control beliefs. Medical Care, 19(11), 1147-1158.
Rubin, R. (1984). Maternal identity and the maternal experience. Springer Publishing Company.