A culture-sensitive quantitative food frequency questionnaire used in an African population: 1. Development and reproducibility.
OBJECTIVE
To develop and assess the reproducibility of a quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) sensitive to the culture of the African population of the North West Province, South Africa.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A community-based field study in a population stratified according to level of urbanization from deep rural to urban upper class.


METHODS
A total of 144 (99 women and 45 men) residents of the North West Province, aged between 15 and 65 years. participated in the study.


METHODS
A culture-sensitive. 145-item interviewer-administered QFFQ was designed to cover the whole diet. Portion sizes were estimated from a food portion photograph book (FPPB) showing foods in three portion sizes. The QFFQ was administered twice, 6-12 weeks apart.


RESULTS
Spearman rank correlation coefficients between the two administrations varied from 0.14 for calcium to 0.75 for alcohol. The mean percentage difference between intakes was 8.5 (standard deviation= 9.9). Energy. protein, carbohydrate and calcium gave differences within 10%. Few significant differences among correlation coefficients or percentage difference for gender, age group or strata of urbanization were present. Bland-Altman plots showed significant proportional bias for protein, fibre and vitamin C. More than 70% of the participants were classified into adjacent quintiles for all nutrients. For food groups, correlation coefficients ranged from 0.25 for milk to 0.45 for vegetable and maize meal groups and 809/a of participants were classified into adjacent quintiles.


CONCLUSIONS
The QFFQ appeared to be a reproducible dietary intake assessment instrument.
MacIntyre
U E
UE
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Medical University of Southern Africa, South Africa. paeds@iweb.co.za
Venter
C S
CS
Vorster
H H
HH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires