Evaluation of reagent strips for detection of Schistosoma haematobium infection in the lower Awash valley, Ethiopia.

The use of reagent strips as indirect morbidity indicators in Schistosoma haematobium infection has been assessed in comparison with urine filtration technique in the lower Awash valley of Ethiopia in 1991. The prevalence of infection by reagent sticks and urine filtration was 16.0% and 3.6%, respectively. Reagent stick haematuria was highly related with urine filtration at the 2+ limit rather than the 1+ limit. A strong association was also obtained between prevalence rate and intensity of infection of all children at both haematuria limits. The prevalence of haematuria was not sex-related but there was age-associated infection and the prevalence was highest in the 10-13 year age group. The possible use of reagent stick haematuria in the monitoring of S. haematobium infection in Ethiopia is discussed.