Validation of the Kiswahili version of the SF-36 Health Survey in a representative sample of an urban population in Tanzania

The objective of this study was to assess the validity of a Kiswahili trans lation of the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) among an urban population in Tanz ania, using the method of known-groups validation. People were randomly sel ected from a demographic surveillance system in Dar es Salaam. The represen tative sample consisted of 3,802 adults (15 years and older). Health status differences were hypothesized among groups, who differed in sex, age, soci o-economic status and self-reported morbidity. Mean SF-36 scale scores were calculated and compared using t-test and ANOVA. Women had significantly lo wer mean SF-36 scale scores (indicating worse health status) than men on al l scales and scores were lower for older people than younger on all domains , as hypothesized. On five of the eight SF-36 scales, means were higher for people of higher socio-economic status compared to those of lower socio-ec onomic status. People who reported an illness within the previous 2 weeks s cored significantly lower on all scales compared to those who were healthy, as did people who said they had a disability or a chronic condition. Qual. Life Res. 8:111-120 (C) 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers.