Introducing the Power In Nepali Girls (PING) empowerment scale

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of survey sample.

Characteristic	Rupantaran (Case) n (%)	Non-Rupantaran (Control) n (%)	Total n (%)
Age (years), mean (SD)*	14.1 (1.1)	14.7 (1.1)	14.40 (1.2)
13	60 (40.0)	34 (22.7)	94 (31.3)
14	37 (24.7)	30 (20.0)	67 (22.2)
15	27 (18.0)	39 (26.0)	22 (22.0)
16	26 (17.3)	47 (31.3)	73 (24.3)
District
Rautahat	50 (33.3)	50 (33.3)	100 (33.3)
Saptari	50 (33.3)	50 (33.3)	100 (33.3)
Dhanusha	50 (33.3)	50 (33.3)	100 (33.3)
Education*
Illiterate	0 (0.00)	8 (5.3)	8 (2.7)
Literate	9 (6.0)	16 (10.7)	25 (8.3)
Completed grade 1	9 (6.0)	9 (6.0)	18 (6.0)
Completed grade 2	13 (8.7)	16 (10.7)	29 (9.7)
Completed grade 3	23 (15.3)	28 (18.7)	51 (17.0)
Completed grade 4	18 (12.0)	24 (16.0)	42 (14.0)
Completed grade 5	28 (18.7)	21 (14.0)	49 (16.3)
Completed grade 6	18 (12.0)	11 (7.3)	29 (9.7)
Completed grade 7	14 (9.3)	9 (6.0)	23 (7.7)
Completed grade 8	12 (8.0)	7 (4.7)	19 (6.3)
Completed grade 9 or above	6 (4.0)	1 (0.67)	7 (2.3)
Caste/ethnicity*
Yadav	19 (12.7)	4 (2.7)	23 (7.7)
Dalit	20 (13.3)	33 (22.0)	53 (17.7)
Other	111 (74)	113 (75.3)	224 (74.7)
Religion
Hindu	126 (84.0)	127 (84.7)	253 (84.3)
Muslim	24 (16.0)	23 (15.3)	47 (15.7)

*Significant at p < 0.001.

Table 2. Initial 29 items for assessing empowerment (italicised items not included in final PING scale).

My parents treat me the same as sons/boys.

I am able to freely share and negotiate my ideas.

My family supports my decisions.

I am not discriminated against on the basis of gender, religion, or caste/ethnicity.

I am given the same work as boys/sons.

I have the ability to make my own decisions about my life.

I participate and provide input into decisions made by my parents.

I do not experience discrimination during menstruation.

My ideas and decisions are heard and respected by my parents.

I am knowledgeable about the harm associated with child marriage and importance of child rights.

I am able to read, write and conduct simple calculations for use in day-to-day life.

I am knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS.

I am knowledgeable about first aid.

I have at least a primary education.

I have access to school facilities.

I am educated about sex.

I am able to be paid the same wages as a male for doing the same work.

My parents support me and help me move ahead with my education.

I am knowledgeable about menstruation.

I have access to transportation and a way to travel from one place to another.

My family supports my holistic growth and development.

I treat everyone equally, with respect, and do not discriminate based on age, gender, caste/ethnicity, or religion.

I maintain my personal hygiene.

I eat nutritious food.

I understand the importance of education.

I have basic life skills to take care of myself and/or my family (such as sewing, agriculture, etc.)

I live in a clean and hygienic environment with good sanitation.

I have access to health resources including doctors, health posts, hospitals, and ambulance services.

I think positively and have a good attitude.

Table 3. Factor structure for empowerment among adolescent girls in Nepal.

Scale items	Factor loading*
	1	2
My family supports my decisions.	0.775	−0.030
My ideas and decisions are heard and respected by my parents.	0.769	0.042
I participate and provide input into decisions made by my parents.	0.747	0.180
My parents treat me the same as sons/boys.	0.609	−0.106
I am given the same work as boys/sons.	0.609	−0.060
I am able to freely share and negotiate my ideas.	0.604	0.205
I am not discriminated against on the basis of gender, religion, or caste/ethnicity.	0.601	−0.214
I do not experience discrimination during menstruation.	0.576	−0.182
I have the ability to make my own decisions about my life.	0.566	0.301
I have at least a primary education.	−0.147	0.813
I am knowledgeable about first aid.	−0.002	0.717
I am educated about sex.	0.257	0.694
I am knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS.	0.226	0.636
I am knowledgeable about the harm associated with child marriage and importance of child rights.	−0.011	0.579
I have access to school facilities.	−0.210	0.573
I am able to read, write and conduct simple calculations for use in day-to-day life.	0.277	0.511
Cronbach’s Alpha	0.857	0.836
Proportion of Variance Explained	0.611	0.320

*Rotated factor loadings using principal estimation method and promax oblique rotation.

Table 4. Comparison of item and summary scores for empowerment among adolescent girls in Nepal between Rupantaran and non-Rupantaran participants.

Scale items	Rupantaran (Case) Scores Median (Interquartile range)	Non-Rupantaran (Control) Scores Median (Interquartile range)
Decision-making Power and Treatment in Family and Society
My parents treat me the same as sons/boys.	4 (4–4)	4 (3–4)
I am able to freely share and negotiate my ideas.	3 (3–4)	3 (3–3)
My family supports my decisions.	3.5 (3–4)	3 (3–4)
I am not discriminated against on the basis of gender, religion, or caste/ethnicity.	4 (3–4)	4 (3–4)
I am given the same work as boys/sons.	3 (3–4)	3 (2–3)
I have the ability to make my own decisions about my life.	3 (3–4)	3 (2–3)
I participate and provide input into decisions made by my parents.	3 (3–4)	3 (2–3)
I do not experience discrimination during menstruation.	4 (3–4)	4 (3–4)
My ideas and decisions are heard and respected by my parents.	3 (3–4)	3 (3–4)
Decision-making Power and Treatment in Family and Society Score.	31 (27–34)	28 (25–31)*
Knowledge, Education and Skills Development
I am knowledgeable about the harm associated with child marriage and importance of child rights.	4 (3–4)	3 (3–4)
I am able to read, write and conduct simple calculations for use in day-to-day life.	4 (3–4)	3 (2–4)
I am knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS.	2 (1–3)	1 (1–2)
I am knowledgeable about first aid.	3 (3–4)	3 (2–3)
I have at least a primary education.	4 (3–4)	2 (1–4)
I have access to school facilities.	4 (3–4)	3 (2–4)
I am educated about sex.	3 (1–3)	1 (1–2)
Knowledge, Education and Skills Development Score.	24 (19–25)	16 (14–20)*

*Cases and controls were significantly different at p < 0.001 using Wilcox Test.