New multidimensional scale of men’s gender egalitarian attitudes and its socio-demographic correlates in Nigeria: results from a psychometric analysis

Introduction: In Sub-Saharan Africa, validated measures of men's gender equality attitudes remain limited amid slow progress in gender equality and sexual and reproductive health outcomes. This study aimed to develop and examine the socio-demographic correlates of a Men's Gender Egalitarian Attitudes Scale (MGEAS) in Nigeria. Methods: The study drew on data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, restricted to 8057 men aged 20-59 years who were married or cohabiting with a female partner. The MGEAS was developed using psychometric analyses of 12 items related to men's gender attitudes in the men's dataset. Principal component analysis, parallel analysis and factor analysis were used to identify scale dimensions and retain items. Scale reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, and confirmatory factor analysis evaluated dimensionality and internal validity. Scores for each retained dimension and for the overall scale were generated using an unweighted method. External validity and socio-demographic correlates were assessed using differentiation by known groups and multivariable regression analyses. Results: Psychometric analyses supported the retention of 10 items structured into three dimensions: Opposition to violence, Upholding equal decision-making power and Affirmation of women's contraception autonomy. The overall scale demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.77), and confirmatory factor analysis indicated satisfactory construct validity. Scores for all dimensions and the overall scale were right-skewed, with a median overall score of 4.25 out of 5. Higher scores across all dimensions were independently associated with schooling level and region of residence. Conclusions: The proposed MGEAS proved to be valid and multidimensional. The scale provides a novel framework to measure men's gender egalitarian attitudes, which covers dimensions that are not necessarily covered by existing measures of gender equality and can be used for further analysis of reproductive preferences, behaviours and related reproductive health outcomes.