Latent class analysis of symptoms for sexually transmitted infections among Iranian women: Results from a population-based survey.
Health Care Women Int
; 41(4): 461-475, 2020 04.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30689520
ABSTRACT
A preliminary symptom-based screening test would lower the financial burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) caused by clinical testing. To develop such a screening method, we should first identify the most specific STI symptoms. We aim to distinguish the specific STI symptom(s) that are most likely to be found in the truly infected individuals. We used data from a population-based survey that was conducted in Iran, in 2014. Using Latent Class Analysis (LCA) in R software, we classified 3049 Iranian women, 18-60 years old, with reference to seven self-reported STI-associated symptoms. Using LCA, we categorized nearly 1% of women as "probably STI-infected". Above 70% of participants reported the "seven symptoms" that are associated with STIs, except for genital ulcer. These symptoms could be used to distinguish healthy participants from infected ones. The "probably healthy" class incorporated about 77% of the participants. Lower abdominal pain and abnormal vaginal discharge were the most frequently reported symptoms of this class. The LCA determined classes along with the WHO syndromic guidelines for STI diagnosis can help physicians to make a more accurate diagnosis. Hence, cost-effectively, only patients who are classified as probably infected need to be referred to medical laboratories for further investigations.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
/
Abdominal Pain
/
Population Surveillance
/
Vaginal Discharge
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Guideline
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
Health Care Women Int
Journal subject:
ENFERMAGEM
/
SAUDE DA MULHER
/
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Irán