Reliability of Omani women's self-reporting of gynaecologic morbidities

To assess the agreement of women's self-reports of gynaecologic morbidities (reproductive tract infections, RTIs; genital prolapse, and urinary tract infections, UTIs), physician's observations and the final diagnosis of these conditions.

A nationally representative sample of 1,662 Omani women selected by a multi-stage, stratified probability-sampling procedure was included in the study. A questionnaire interview, physical and gynaecologic examination, and laboratory investigations were used.

A total of 1,364 women completed all forms. The agreement between women's report of vaginal discharge and the diagnosis of RTI was poor. The sensitivity but not the specificity improved when the women were asked about specific discharge questions that upset them or are medically suspicious. Sensitivity of self-report in the diagnosis of genital prolapse and UTI from self-report was high but specificity was low.

Self-report of vaginal discharge, coupled with clinical examination, can be used in community diagnosis of RTI. Self-report of symptoms of vaginal prolapse can also be used for community diagnosis of genital prolapse. A urinary culture should supplement self-reports of UTI to enhance specificity, although the presence of a positive culture in the absence of symptoms is of no clinical significance in non-pregnant women or women without renal disease.