A culture-sensitive semi-quantitative FFQ for use among the adult population in Nairobi, Kenya: development, validity and reproducibility

Objective: To develop a semi-quantitative FFQ and to evaluate its validity and reproducibility for the assessment of total dietary intake of Kenyan urban adult population, given its non-existence in Kenya. Design: The current study adopted a cross-sectional design. A culture-sensitive semi-quantitative FFQ was developed and its validity was tested relative to three non-consecutive 24-h recalls (24hR). Reproducibility was tested by the test-retest method, with a 3-week interval. Spearman's correlation coefficients and intra-class correlation coefficients were calculated for several macro- and micronutrients. Cross-classification into quartiles and Bland and Altman plots were analysed. Setting: Nairobi county (Dagoreti South and Starehe constituencies). Participants: A convenient sample was recruited in three different clusters in Nairobi. Results: A culture-sensitive 123-food-item semi-quantitative FFQ showed higher nutrient intakes compared with the 24hR (total energy median 12543 center dot 632 v. 8501 center dot 888 kJ, P < 0 center dot 001). Energy-adjusted and deattenuated Spearman's correlations for macronutrients ranged between 0 center dot 21 (total fat) and 0 center dot 47 (protein). The agreement in the same quartile varied from 28 % (protein) to 41 % (carbohydrates). Including adjacent quartiles, the range increased: 76 % (protein and fat) to 81 % (carbohydrates). The extreme disagreement was low. The first FFQ application resulted in higher mean values for all nutrients compared with the second FFQ (total energy median 12459 center dot 952 v. 10485 center dot 104 kJ, P < 0 center dot 001). Energy-adjusted correlations for macronutrients ranged from 0 center dot 28 (carbohydrates) to 0 center dot 61 (protein). Intra-class correlation coefficients for macronutrients were moderate, between 0 center dot 6 and 0 center dot 7. Conclusions: The developed semi-quantitative FFQ was shown to be a valid and reproducible tool for ranking urban adult Kenyans according to their dietary intake.

Automated summary

The developed semi-quantitative FFQ was found to be a valid and reproducible tool for ranking urban adult Kenyans according to their dietary intake, based on comparisons with 24-hour recalls data.