Author(s): Mehnaaz Siddiqi, Purba Chattopadhyay and Paromita Ghosh

Abstract:
The study aimed to translate original English versions of Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue for leprosy-affected persons, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale adapted for leprosy-affected persons, Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale and the Participation Scale into colloquial Bengali and standardize these tools. Initially original English versions of all four tools were translated in colloquial Bengali language. The draft Bengali translations were submitted to three experts for evaluation. The experts independently rated the translations. Their suggestions were also recorded. Following their suggestions, drafts of the translated tools were partly modified. Inter-rater correlations (Spearman’s Rho) between ratings of pairs of experts were computed. Chi-square test was conducted after categorizing the ratings; Likelihood Ratios were calculated. The translated versions of the four scales were administered through interviews on a random sample of 109 leprosy patients. Scoring was done. Split-half reliability coefficients were computed followed by calculation of coefficients of construct validity. Inter-rater correlations present mixed but informative results. Reliability coefficients were high and significant. Adequate construct validity were evident through correlations between scores on Bengali translations of :- a)Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale; b) Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale and Participation Scale; c) Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale and Participation Scale. Tentative norms were constructed.