AN INTERACTIVE 24-H RECALL TECHNIQUE FOR ASSESSING THE ADEQUACY OF TRACE MINERAL INTAKES OF RURAL MALAWIAN WOMEN - ITS ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS

Objectives: To assess the relative validity of an interactive 24-h rec all for estimating mineral intakes of rural Malawian women. Design: Re peated interactive 24-h recalls were compared with weighed records col lected for the same 2 days of food intake, and for 2 days 1-2 weeks pr ior and subsequent to the weighed record data collection period. Setti ng: Three villages in traditional authority Jalasi, Mangochi District, Malawi. Subjects: 60 rural pregnant women. Results: Median daily inta kes of most minerals (Ca, Fe, Zn, Mn) were comparable for the two meth ods, but slightly overestimated for recalled (R) intakes expressed per MJ (mg/MJ) compared to weighed (W) (R vs W = Ca, 48 vs 38; Fe, 2.1 vs 1.9; Zn, 0.9 vs O.8; Mn, 0.40 vs 0.38; P less than or equal to 0.05). By contrast, recalled median daily intakes of energy (kJ), protein (g ) fat (g) and Cu (mg) were slightly underestimated (R vs W = 6588 vs 7 824; 51 vs 57; 14 vs 15; 1.3 v s 1.6, respectively; P less than or equ al to 0.05). Discrepancies were attributed primarily to inaccurate est imates of main meal food portions [R vs W = nsima (the main meal cerea l style) 475 vs 557; and legume relish 171 vs 118 P less than or equal to 0.001]. For classifying intakes into tertiles, agreement between t he two methods was poor for daily intakes (Cohen's kappa <0.40), but f air when expressed per MJ, and as a percentage of energy from food gro ups (Cohen's kappa greater than or equal to 0.40). Variance ratios for recall data were higher than corresponding ratios for the weighed int akes (R vs W = for energy, 4.87 vs 0.87), indicating poorer recall mea surement precision. Conclusions: Results emphasise the importance of s electing the dietary method according to the study objectives, and the nutrients required. Sponsorship: Supported by Canadian International Development Agency and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Counc il of Canada. Descriptors: diet study techniques, Malawi, mineral inta kes, rural African women, variance.