Prevalence and associated risk factors of self-reported symptoms suggestive of female genital schistosomiasis among women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
1
School of Medicine, Department of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
2
Bill and Joyce Cummings Institute of Global Health, University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a neglected tropical disease affecting women in schistosomiasis-endemic areas, yet it remains under-recognised due to limited diagnostic capacity1. In such settings, symptom-based reporting is frequently used to estimate FGS burden2. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and identify factors associated with self-reported symptoms suggestive of FGS among women in kwazulu-natal, south africa.
METHODS:
a facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 695 women between june and august 2025. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The outcome was women who reported experiencing ≥1 FGS-suggestive symptoms (proxy indicator, not a clinical diagnosis). Data were analysed using stata 19.5 se. Descriptive statistics summarised participant characteristics. Logistic regression was used to examine associations. Wald tests assessed overall predictor significance, while model fit was evaluated using the hosmer-lemeshow and link tests.
RESULTS:
most participants were aged 17-29 years (52.5%). Overall, 45.9% of women reported experiencing one or more symptoms suggestive of FGS (95% ci 42.2-49.6). The most commonly reported symptoms were lower abdominal pain (40.8%) and vaginal itching (34.5%). In the multivariable model, religious affiliation (p 0.001), income source (p 0.000) and awareness of FGS (p 0.000) were significantly associated with symptom reporting. Age (p 0.112) and water contact activity (p 0.050) were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS:
nearly half of the women in this schistosomiasis-endemic setting reported symptoms suggestive of FGS. The strong association between FGS awareness and symptom reporting underscores the importance of targeted community education and integration of FGS messaging into sexual and reproductive health services. These findings provide evidence to inform schistosomiasis control programmes, primary health care planning, and reproductive health policy, supporting symptom-based screening and awareness-driven case identification where diagnostic capacity is limited.
female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a neglected tropical disease affecting women in schistosomiasis-endemic areas, yet it remains under-recognised due to limited diagnostic capacity1. In such settings, symptom-based reporting is frequently used to estimate FGS burden2. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and identify factors associated with self-reported symptoms suggestive of FGS among women in kwazulu-natal, south africa.
METHODS:
a facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 695 women between june and august 2025. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The outcome was women who reported experiencing ≥1 FGS-suggestive symptoms (proxy indicator, not a clinical diagnosis). Data were analysed using stata 19.5 se. Descriptive statistics summarised participant characteristics. Logistic regression was used to examine associations. Wald tests assessed overall predictor significance, while model fit was evaluated using the hosmer-lemeshow and link tests.
RESULTS:
most participants were aged 17-29 years (52.5%). Overall, 45.9% of women reported experiencing one or more symptoms suggestive of FGS (95% ci 42.2-49.6). The most commonly reported symptoms were lower abdominal pain (40.8%) and vaginal itching (34.5%). In the multivariable model, religious affiliation (p 0.001), income source (p 0.000) and awareness of FGS (p 0.000) were significantly associated with symptom reporting. Age (p 0.112) and water contact activity (p 0.050) were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS:
nearly half of the women in this schistosomiasis-endemic setting reported symptoms suggestive of FGS. The strong association between FGS awareness and symptom reporting underscores the importance of targeted community education and integration of FGS messaging into sexual and reproductive health services. These findings provide evidence to inform schistosomiasis control programmes, primary health care planning, and reproductive health policy, supporting symptom-based screening and awareness-driven case identification where diagnostic capacity is limited.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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