© 1992 by Oxford University Press
research-article |
Field Validation of the Tallstick in Marginal Communities in Nicaragua

*Positive Deviance in Nutrition Research Project Managua, Nicaragua
**Tufts University School of Nutrition Medford, MA, USA
***Department of Nutrition, University of California Davis, CA, USA
Region II, Progama Alimentario Nicaraguense (PAN) Leon, Nicaragua
The Tallstick is a new, simplified anthropometric field tool which allows immediate visual interpretation of height-for-age. This tool was field tested in community-based programmes in Managua, Nicaragua, and the rural community of Los Zanales, screening l004 children aged 0-60 months for nutritional stunting. Overall sensitivity and specificity analysis comparing HAZ scores and Taltstick results revealed that the Tallstick correctly identified 83-85 per cent of severely stunted children (HAZ < 25) and twothirds of those with HAZ of 2 and below. It also had g d pitive predictive value for the mildly stunted. As a screening tool for low weight-for-age, the Tallstick performed better than arm circumference. The best of the community volunteers trained with the Talbtick could use it as well as their trainers. Progressive stunting was found in the 280 children in the sample who did not receive any form of milk. The advantages of the Tallstick for community-level screening and the importance of sustained Linear growth are discussed.