A comparison of the efficiencies of three techniques used to screen urine samples for schistosomiasis in Guma Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Three diagnostic techniques, namely egg sedimentation, gross/visual haematuria and reagent strip/microhae maturia were used to screen urine samples of 500 randomly selected Primary School pupils in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The pupils ranged in age from 5-19 years. Visual haematuria showed a prevalence of 29%, sensitivity of 52%, specificity of 75% and a positive predictive value of 46%. Micro haematuria had a prevalence of 82%, sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 79% and a positive predictive value of 81%. The egg-count/sedimentation technique on the other hand had a prevalence of 55.4%, sensitivity of 65.10%, specificity of 38.46% and a positive predictive value of 56.76%. Chi-square tests and correlation analyses were used to test the results statistically. Based on these results, the micro haematuria is recommended for use in epidemiological surveys and evaluation of treatment programmes for urinary schistosomiasis while visualhae maturia is recommended as a preliminary field survey technique.

Keywords: prevalence, sensitivity, specificity, haematuria, predictive value