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. 2016 Jun;92(4):251-6.
doi: 10.1136/sextrans-2015-052371. Epub 2016 Jan 27.

Prevalence of reproductive tract infections and the predictive value of girls' symptom-based reporting: findings from a cross-sectional survey in rural western Kenya

Emily Kerubo  1 , Kayla F Laserson  2 , Newton Otecko  1 , Collins Odhiambo  1 , Linda Mason  3 , Elizabeth Nyothach  1 , Kelvin O Oruko  1 , Ashley Bauman  3 , John Vulule  1 , Clement Zeh  4 , Penelope A Phillips-Howard  5
Affiliations

Prevalence of reproductive tract infections and the predictive value of girls' symptom-based reporting: findings from a cross-sectional survey in rural western Kenya

Emily Kerubo et al. Sex Transm Infect. 2016 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: Reproductive tract infections (RTIs), including sexually acquired, among adolescent girls is a public health concern, but few studies have measured prevalence in low-middle-income countries. The objective of this study was to examine prevalence in rural schoolgirls in Kenya against their reported symptoms.

Methods: In 2013, a survey was conducted in 542 adolescent schoolgirls aged 14-17 years who were enrolled in a menstrual feasibility study. Vaginal self-swabbing was conducted after girls were interviewed face-to-face by trained nurses on symptoms. The prevalence of girls with symptoms and laboratory-confirmed infections, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of symptoms compared with laboratory results, were calculated.

Results: Of 515 girls agreeing to self-swab, 510 answered symptom questions. A quarter (24%) reported one or more symptoms; most commonly vaginal discharge (11%), pain (9%) or itching (4%). Laboratory tests confirmed 28% of girls had one or more RTI. Prevalence rose with age; among girls aged 16-17 years, 33% had infections. Bacterial vaginosis was the most common (18%), followed by Candida albicans (9%), Chlamydia trachomatis (3%), Trichomonas vaginalis (3%) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (1%). Reported symptoms had a low sensitivity and positive predictive value. Three-quarters of girls with bacterial vaginosis and C. albicans, and 50% with T. vaginalis were asymptomatic.

Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of adolescent schoolgirls with RTI in rural Kenya. Public efforts are required to identify and treat infections among girls to reduce longer-term sequelae but poor reliability of symptom reporting minimises utility of symptom-based diagnosis in this population.

Trial registration number: ISRCTN17486946.

Keywords: ADOLESCENT; AFRICA; DIAGNOSIS; REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH; SEXUAL HEALTH.

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