Association of Urogenital Symptoms with History of Water Contact in Young Women in Areas Endemic for S. haematobium. A Cross-Sectional Study in Rural South Africa

Hashini Nilushika Galappaththi-Arachchige, Ingrid Elise Amlie Hegertun, Sigve Holmen, Erik Qvigstad, Elisabeth Kleppa, Motshedisi Sebitloane, Patricia Doris Ndhlovu, Birgitte Jyding Vennervald, Svein Gunnar Gundersen, Myra Taylor and Eyrun Floerecke Kjetland
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Hashini Nilushika Galappaththi-Arachchige: Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases Ullevaal, Oslo University Hospital, Postboks 4956 Nydalen, Oslo 0450, Norway
Ingrid Elise Amlie Hegertun: Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases Ullevaal, Oslo University Hospital, Postboks 4956 Nydalen, Oslo 0450, Norway
Sigve Holmen: Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases Ullevaal, Oslo University Hospital, Postboks 4956 Nydalen, Oslo 0450, Norway
Erik Qvigstad: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0312, Norway
Elisabeth Kleppa: Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases Ullevaal, Oslo University Hospital, Postboks 4956 Nydalen, Oslo 0450, Norway
Motshedisi Sebitloane: Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
Patricia Doris Ndhlovu: Imperial College London, Claybrook Center, London W68LN, UK
Birgitte Jyding Vennervald: Section for Parasitology and Aquatic Diseases, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark
Svein Gunnar Gundersen: Research Unit, Sorlandet Hospital, Kristiansand 4615, Norway
Myra Taylor: Discipline of Public Health Medicine, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
Eyrun Floerecke Kjetland: Norwegian Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases Ullevaal, Oslo University Hospital, Postboks 4956 Nydalen, Oslo 0450, Norway

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-12

Abstract: Female genital schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Schistosoma haematobium . Infected females may suffer from symptoms mimicking sexually transmitted infections. We explored if self-reported history of unsafe water contact could be used as a simple predictor of genital schistosomiasis. In a cross-sectional study in rural South Africa, 883 sexually active women aged 16–22 years were included. Questions were asked about urogenital symptoms and water contact history. Urine samples were tested for S. haematobium ova. A score based on self-reported water contact was calculated and the association with symptoms was explored while adjusting for other genital infections using multivariable logistic regression analyses. S. haematobium ova were detected in the urine of 30.5% of subjects. Having ova in the urine was associated with the water contact score ( p < 0.001). Symptoms that were associated with water contact included burning sensation in the genitals ( p = 0.005), spot bleeding ( p = 0.012), abnormal discharge smell ( p = 0.018), bloody discharge ( p = 0.020), genital ulcer ( p = 0.038), red urine ( p < 0.001), stress incontinence ( p = 0.001) and lower abdominal pain ( p = 0.028). In S. haematobium endemic areas, self-reported water contact was strongly associated with urogenital symptoms. In low-resource settings, a simple history including risk of water contact behaviour can serve as an indicator of urogenital schistosomiasis.

Keywords: Schistosoma haematobium; female genital schistosomiasis; water contact; urogenital symptoms; sexually transmitted infections (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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