Validation and reproducibility of a FFQ focused on pregnant women living in Northeastern Brazil

Objective: The aim of the current study is to assess the validity and reproducibility of a FFQ focused on pregnant women living in Northeastern Brazil. Design: Three 24-hour-dietary recalls (24 hR) and two FFQ were applied at 15-d intervals between research stages in order to confirm the validity and reproducibility of the FFQ. Validity assessment was based on Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC) or Spearman's correlation coefficient (SCC) between FFQ and the mean of three 24 hR (the 24 hR was used as reference standard), whereas reproducibility assessment was based on the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) among FFQ, and P < 0 center dot 05 was set as significance level. Setting: Public health network of a capital city in Northeastern Brazil. Participants: Overall, 100 pregnant women were included in the study. Results: The PCC or SCC adopted in the validity analysis recorded the recommended values (from 0 center dot 4 and 0 center dot 7) for energy (0 center dot 44; P < 0 center dot 001), carbohydrate (0 center dot 40; P < 0 center dot 001), vitamins B-2 (0 center dot 40; P < 0 center dot 001), B-5 (0 center dot 40; P < 0 center dot 001), E (0 center dot 47; P < 0 center dot 001), B-12 (0 center dot 48; P < 0 center dot 001), phosphorus (0 center dot 92; P < 0 center dot 001), Mg (0 center dot 81; P < 0 center dot 001), Se (0 center dot 70; P < 0 center dot 001), cholesterol (0 center dot 64; P < 0 center dot 001), saturated (0 center dot 76; P < 0 center dot 001), polyunsaturated (0 center dot 73; P < 0 center dot 001) and monounsaturated fats (0 center dot 87; P < 0 center dot 001) and fibres (0 center dot 77; P < 0 center dot 001). Mg (0 center dot 72; P < 0 center dot 001), Fe (0 center dot 65; P < 0 center dot 001), lipid (0 center dot 56; P < 0 center dot 001) and energy (0 center dot 55; P < 0 center dot 001) presented ICC within the recommended reproducibility values. Conclusions: The FFQ developed in the current study is a useful tool to assess the usual food intake of pregnant women.