Female genital schistosomiasis. New challenges from a gender perspective.

Female genital schistosomiasis has been neglected as a disease entity during a period when considerable progress has been achieved for schistosomiasis as such. The pathophysiology and immunology are imperfectly understood, appropriate diagnostic tools are not at hand, therapeutic rationales do not exist, the natural history is not well known and women's perception of their illness has never been studied. Based on the findings of a systematic analysis, made by an inventory of research needs on women and tropical diseases, it has been possible to highlight individual and public health hazards of female genital schistosomiasis, such as the disease being a possible cofactor for te spread of the human immunodeficiency virus. This paper gives an example of how a gender perspective on a well-known parasitic disease can bring new challenges to the research community and the public health sector.