High sensitivity but low specificity of the risk factors and symptoms questionnaire in diagnosing female genital schistosomiasis among sexually active women with genital lesions in selected villages of Maswa District, North-Western Tanzania

Abstract

Female genital schistosomiasis and urinary-related symptoms are common in the current study population. The risk factor and symptoms checklist for diagnosis of FGS achieved high sensitivity but low specificity for women who scored ≥7 points using colposcope as a reference diagnostic test. At present, the call to integrate FGS into the reproductive health services for women has received much attention, however, the diagnostic part of FGS remains a challenge, thus there is a need to continue evaluating this tool in different population and age structures in endemic areas.