[A study on the screening of high-risk population of schistosomiasis using a quick inquiry discriminant method during the years of disasters].

OBJECTIVE: To seek a rapid, simple, but effective inquiry method for screening high risk population challenged by schistosomiasis. METHODS: Two embankment collapsed villages were selected in schistosomiasis epidemic area in Dongting Lake. Information on water exposure was collected through a retrospective study. Data was analyzed by stepwise discriminant analysis. RESULTS: A Fisher's function was established by stepwise discriminant analysis which including 5 variables out of 18. Two hundred and forty-six individuals were discriminated by the function with accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of predicting their current infection status with the results of 87.4%, 84.1% and 89.0% respectively. CONCLUSION: The inquiry method might serve as simple, rapid, economic and effective tool for diagnosis in screening high risk population challenged by schistosomiasis in lake communities.