The validity of two measures of dietary diversity derived from a qualitative diversity questionnaire (reference periods of 1 or 7 days) by comparison with nutrient intake from three 24-hour recalls was investigated in 51 women (18--45 y) in a peri-urban community in Senegal, West Africa. Significant positive correlations (range: r = 0.30 to r = 0.64) were found between intakes of calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin and vitamin B6 and diversity score based on number of different individual foods derived from data obtained from the 7-day reference period. Data from the diversity score from the 1-day reference period was less well correlated with the 24-hr recalls. Our data suggest that a diversity measure based on foods derived from a diversity questionnaire would be useful in the monitoring of nutrient intake changes over time within populations.

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