Cognitive Testing and Piloting of the Bangla Version of the Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioning Among Adolescent Girls and Women With Disabilities in Selected Sub-districts of Bangladesh

TL;DR

This study adapts and tests a disability questionnaire in Bangla to better understand the functioning of adolescent girls and women with disabilities in Bangladesh.

Contribution

The study provides a culturally adapted and validated version of the Washington Group questionnaire in Bangla for disability assessment in Bangladesh.

Findings

Participants showed varied response times and understanding based on disability types.

Initial assessments showed strong consistency and favorable response rates.

The Bangla version is feasible and valid for real-world disability data collection.

Abstract

Introduction

This study focuses on the cognitive testing and piloting of the Bangla version of the Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioning among adolescent girls and women with disabilities in selected sub-districts of Bangladesh. The Washington Group on Disability Statistics developed the questionnaire as a tool to assess the functioning and disability status of individuals. The adaptation of this questionnaire to Bangla is crucial for capturing accurate data on the experiences of adolescent girls and women with disabilities in Bangladesh.

Materials and methods

The research employs a two-phase approach, starting with cognitive testing to ensure the linguistic and cultural relevance of the translated questionnaire. This phase involves engaging with a sample of the target population to assess the comprehension, clarity, and appropriateness of the questions. Subsequently, a pilot study was conducted in selected sub-districts to evaluate the feasibility and validity of the Bangla version of the Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioning in real-world settings. Both of the tests were conducted in March 2023.

Results

There were different types of participants with different types of disabilities. Information processing, meaning, understanding the questions, thinking, and answering speed or time were different between groups, even though they were different from person to person. The initial assessments indicate strong consistency in responses. Participants demonstrated a favorable response rate, indicating potential effectiveness for broader implementation.

Conclusion

The current study aims to contribute to disability data collection methodologies, particularly in the context of adolescent girls and women in Bangladesh. The research seeks to empower policymakers, researchers, and advocacy groups with a robust instrument of disability screening. Researchers and clinicians may rely on our accurate and validated Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioning translation into Bangla when working with adolescent girls and women with disabilities.

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