Development and validation of food frequency questionnaire for food and nutrient intakes of adults in Butajira, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

We developed a culturally-specific Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) to the Ethiopian context and evaluate its validity in comparison to two 24-h dietary recalls (24-HRs) of food and nutrient intake. To evaluate the validity of a culturally-specific FFQ against two 24-HRs, we used a paired t-test, Wilcoxon-signed-rank test, Correlation coefficients, cross-classification, κ and Bland-Altman analysis. The FFQ was obtained 15 d after the second 24-HR was completed. A total of 105 adults, of which 43 (41 %) were men and 62 (59 %) women, aged 20-65 years participated in this present study. Mean energy and macronutrient intake obtained from the FFQ were significantly higher than those obtained from the mean of two 24-HRs. For energy and nutrient intakes, the crude correlation ranged from 0-05 (total fat) to 0-49 (vitamin B1). The de-attenuated correlation ranged from to 0-10 (total fat) to 0-80 (vitamin A). For the majority of food groups, no significant difference was observed in the median intake of food and nutrients. Crude correlation for food groups ranged from 0-12 (egg) to 0-78 (legumes). The de-attenuated correlation ranged from 0-24 (egg) to 1-00 (meat/poultry/fish and dairy). The FFQ is valid to assess and rank individuals in terms of intake of most food groups according to high and low intake categories.