DEVELOPMENT OF FOOD FREQUENCY QUESTIONNAIRES IN 3 POPULATION SAMPLES OF AFRICAN ORIGIN FROM CAMEROON, JAMAICA AND CARIBBEAN MIGRANTS TO THEUK

Objectives: To develop the methods for assessment of food and nutrient intake using standardized food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) in thre e African origin populations from Cameroon, Jamaica and Caribbean migr ants to the United Kingdom. Design: Cross-sectional assessment of diet from a representative sample in each site, using either a 2-day food diary or a 24-h recall method to determine foods for inclusion on the food frequency questionnaire. Setting: A rural and urban site in Camer oon, Evodoula and Cite Verte in Yaounde, respectively; a district in K ingston Jamaica; African-Caribbeans living in central Manchester, UK. Subjects: Aged 25-79 years, 61 from the Cameroonian urban site, 62 fro m the village site; 102 subjects from Jamaica (additional analysis on a subsample of 20): 29 subjects from Manchester, UK. Main outcome meas ures: Foods contributing to nutrients in each site to allow the develo pment of a FFQ. Results: A high response rate was obtained in each sit e. Comparison of macronutrient intakes between the sites showed that c arbohydrate was the most important contributor to energy intake in Jam aica (55%) and the least in rural Cameroon. In rural Cameroon, fat (ma inly palm oil) was the most important contributor to energy intake (44 %). Manchester had the highest contribution of protein to energy (17%) . Foods contributing to total energy, protein, fat and carbohydrate we re determined. In rural Cameroon, the top 10 food items contributed 66 % of the total energy intake compared to 37% for the top 10 foods in M anchester. Foods contributing to energy were similar in Jamaica and Ma nchester. Cassava contributed 44% of the carbohydrate intake in rural Cameroon and only 6% in urban Cameroon. One FFQ has been developed for use in both sites in Cameroon containing 76 food items. The FFQ for J amaica contains 69 foods and for Manchester 108 food items. Conclusion : Considerable variations exist within sites (Cameroon) and between si tes in foods which are important contributors to nutrient intakes. Wit h careful exploration of eating habits it has been possible to develop standardized, but locally appropriate FFQs for use in African populat ions in different countries.