[Use of a questionnaire for quick identification of the principal foci of urinary bilharziasis in central Ivory Coast].

Simple questionnaires designed for use in schools have been used to identify communities at high risk for urinary schistosomiasis in several African countries but not in the Cote d'Ivoire. The primary purpose of this study was to assess the acceptance and feasibility of the school questionnaire approach in the Cote d'Ivoire. Questionnaires were distributed to 136 schools in central Cote d'Ivoire. Responses were obtained within 6 weeks from 124 schools (91.2%). A total of 12,479 school children were interviewed. At 60 schools, reagent stick tests were performed within two weeks to detect microhematuria by trained teachers. A biomedical team was sent to 14 selected schools to check results by reagent stick testing and urine filtration. Reagent stick tests showed high specificity (97%) and moderate sensitivity (67%). A strong statistical correlation was observed between responses to two key questions concerning "blood in urine" and "having had schistosomiasis" and the results of reagent stick testing (Spearman rank correlation, p < 0.0001). Our findings are in good agreement with previous reports. Using the data obtained, we were able to accurately map the distribution of urinary schistosomiasis in the study area. Use of this questionnaire for quick identification of high risk communities for urinary schistosomiasis was recommended as a preliminary step in the planned national control program and should allow better targeted of scarce resources.