title: How valid is the tallquist method in screening pregnant women with anemia in poor rural settings of southwestern Nigeria?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diagnosis of anemia is challenging in resource-poor settings due to inadequate laboratory resources. This study assessed the validity of the Tallquist haemoglobinometer in assessing anemia among pregnant women in Osogbo, Southwestern Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross - sectional study, in which 200 pregnant women of reproductive age were selected using multistage sapling method. A checklist was used to collect socio-demographic data and the results of the screening test. Blood collection and analysis were carried out using standardized referenced methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean±SD age of the respondents was 28.9+3.9 yrs.; and 62 (62.6%) had up to primary level education. When Tallquist and Haematocrit methods were compared, there was 68.4%, 83.5% and 100% likelihood of Tallquist method (TM) diagnosing severe, moderate and mild anemia, respectively. The validity indices of the TM versus Haematocrit method as the gold standard revealed the sensitivity of 97.9%, specificity of 92.1%, positive predictive value of 92.4%, and negative predictive value of 97.9% and diagnostic accuracy of 95.0%. When compared to the Haemoglobin Cyanide method, the Tallquist method showed a calculated sensitivity of 96.6%, specificity of 87.4%, positive predictive value of 86.0%, and negative predictive value of 97.0% and diagnostic accuracy of 91.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TM is a valid tool in screening anemia among pregnant women in resource- poor settings and rural primary health care centers in Southwestern Nigeria; therefore, its use should be encouraged, particularly to assess mild to moderate anemia.
authors: FWACP, PhD, Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences Osun State University Osogbo, PMB 4494, Osogbo, Nigeria. lekanadebimpe@gmail.com.
authors: Adebimpe
authors: A
authors: Wasiu Olalekan
authors: PhD, FMLSCN, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, LAUTECH College of Health Sciences, Osogbo, Nigeria. eoakanni@lautech.edu.ng .
authors: Akanni
authors: A
authors: Olufemi Emmanuel
keywords: Anemia; Pregnant women; Southwestern Nigeria; Tallquist method; Validity