Objective: To describe the process involved in adapting scales for measuring neighborhood characteristics to Brazilian Portuguese.
Methods: The dimensions addressed were social cohesion, environment suitable for physical activity, availability of healthy foods, safety, perceived violence and victimization. The adaptation process involved assessment of equivalence between the original scales and the Portuguese versions. The test-retest reliability was assessed in a subsample of 261 participants from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study for Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), who answered the same questionnaire on two different occasions, separated by an interval of 7 to 14 days.
Results: The aspects of equivalence assessed were shown to be adequate. The intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.83 (95%CI 0.78;0.87) for Social Cohesion to 0.90 (95%CI 0.87;0.92) for Walking Environment. The scales showed internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) ranging from 0.60 to 0.84.
Conclusions: The measurements on self-reported neighborhood characteristics had very good reproducibility and good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha). The results suggest that these scales can be used in studies involving Brazilian populations with characteristics similar to those of ELSA-Brasil.