Administering a Food Frequency Questionnaire to Evaluate Pregnant Women’s Selenium Intake in Accra, Ghana: A Feasibility Study

General Aim: The main aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of collecting dietary selenium (Se) consumption via administration of a dietary recall survey, specifically a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), to pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra, Ghana. Methods: A team of research assistants administered context-specific FFQs to pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of KBTH in Accra, Ghana. We observed and analyzed questions of feasibility related to dietary assessment, evaluation of resources, data management and coding. We are to use FFQ data analyze the burden of Se deficiency in this population using Se concentrations for each food determined by USDA FoodData Central database and selected Ghanaian foods run through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: We administered FFQs to 104 English-speaking pregnant women ≥ age 18 at the antenatal clinic of KBTH over a 3 day period. Of these, 100 patients were eligible for inclusion in the analysis. The average time to administer each FFQ was 11 minutes. It was most feasible to administer the surveys in the antenatal clinic waiting room prior to their visit with the clinician. The average total Se intake in this population of pregnant women was 90.4 μg/day ±50.0 μg, suggesting an above average intake of Se. Discussion: Administration of the FFQ to pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of KBTH was feasible: the clinic had the resources and capacity to carry out this study. The above average Se intake calculated in this study should be taken as an approximation. To appropriately estimate total dietary Se intake, it is necessary to complete FFQ validation with 24-hour recall surveys or a duplicate portion technique and Se-focused foods for intake questions.Master of Public Healt