Table 3

Disease prediction of symptoms against laboratory diagnosis (95% CI) of reproductive tract infections

 SensitivitySpecificityPPVNPV
n% (95% CI)n% (95% CI)N% (95% CI)n% (95% CI)
Bacterial vaginosis
 Heavy menstruation7/937.5 (3.1 to 14.9)391/41793.8 (91.0 to 95.9)7/3321.2 (9.0 to 38.9)391/47782.0 (78.2 to 85.3)
 Between menses bleeding4/934.3 (1.2 to 11.0)401/41796.2 (93.8 to 97.8)4/2020.0 (5.7 to 43.7)401/49081.8 (78.1 to 85.2)
 Burning urine2/932.2 (0.3 to 7.6)408/41797.8 (95.9 to 99.0)2/1118.2 (2.3 to 51.8)408/49981.8 (78.1 to 85.1)
 Frequency of urine4/934.2 (1.2 to 10.4)408/41797.8 (95.9 to 99.0)4/1330.8 (9.1 to 61.4)408/49782.1(78.2 to 85.3)
 Abdominal/vaginal pain10/9310.7 (5.3 to 18.9)382/41791.6 (88.5 to 94.1)10/4522.2 (11.2 to 37.1)382/46582.2 (78.4 to 85.5)
 Pain during intercourse*1/616.7 (0.5 to 64.1)39/4097.5 (86.4 to 99.9)1/250.0 (1.3 to 98.7)39/4488.6 (75.4 to 96.2)
 Itchy/sore vagina†7/927.6 (3.1 to 15.1)397/41296.4 (94.1 to 98.0)7/2231.8 (13.9 to 54.9)397/48282.4 (78.7 to 85.7)
 Malodorous smell5/915.5 (1.8 to 12.4)408/41299.0 (97.5 to 99.7)5/955.6 (21.2 to 86.3)408/49482.6 (79.0 to 85.8)
 Vaginal discharge11/9311.8 (6.1 to 20.2)371/41389.8 (86.5 to 92.6)11/5320.8 (10.8 to 34.1)371/45381.9 (78.0 to 85.3)
 Any symptoms26/9328.0 (19.1 to 38.2)321/41777.0 (72.6 to 80.9)26/12221.3 (15.0 to 29.7)321/38882.7 (78.6 to 86.4)
Candida albicans
 Heavy menstruation4/449.1 (2.5 to 21.7)435/46394.0 (91.4 to 95.9)4/3212.5 (3.5 to 29.0)435/47591.6 (88.7 to 93.9)
 Between menses bleeding1/442.2 (0.1 to 12.0)444/56395.9 (93.7 to 97.5)1/205.0 (0.1 to24.9)444/48791.2 (88.3 to 93.5)
 Burning urine0/440.0 (0.0 to 8.4)452/46397.6 (95.8 to 98.8)0/110.0 (0.0 to 28.5)452/49691.1 (88.3 to 93.5)
 Frequency of urine0/440.0 (0.0 to 8.0)451/46397.4 (95.5 to 98.7)0/120.0 (0.0 to 26.5)451/49591.1 (88.3 to 93.5)
 Abdominal/vaginal pain6/4413.6 (5.2 to 27.9)424/46391.6(88.7 to 93.9)6/4513.3 (5.5 to 26.8)424/46291.8 (88.9 to 94.1)
 Pain during intercourse0/80.0 (0.0 to 36.9)36/3894.7 (82.3 to 99.4)0/20.0 (0.0 to 84.2)36/4481.8 (67.3 to 91.8)
 Itchy/sore vagina1/442.3 (0.1 to 12.0)437/45795.6 (93.3 to 97.3)1/214.8 (0.1 to 23.8)437/48091.0 (88.1 to 93.4)
 Malodorous smell0/420.0 (0.0 to 8.4)450/45898.3 (96.6 to 99.2)0/80.0 (0.0 to 36.9)450/49291.5 (88.6 to 93.8)
 Vaginal discharge3/437.0 (1.4 to 19.1)410/46089.1 (85.9 to 91.8)3/535.7 (1.2 to 15.7)410/45091.1 (88.1 to 93.6)
 Any symptoms11/4425.0 (13.2 to 40.3)354/46376.5 (72.3 to 80.3)11/1209.2 (4.7 to 15.8)354/38791.1 (88.2 to 94.1)
Chlamydia trachomatis
 Heavy menstruation0/130.0 (0.0 to 24.7)461/49493.3 (90.6 to 95.4)0/330.0 (0.0 to 10.6)461/47497.3 (95.4 to 98.5)
 Between menses bleeding0/130.0 (0.0 to 24.7)475/49496.2 (94.1 to 97.7)0/190.0 (0.0 to 17.7)475/48897.3 (95.5 to 98.6)
 Burning urine1/137.7 (0.2 to 36.0)484/49498.0 (96.3 to 99.0)1/119.1 (0.2 to 41.3)484/49697.6 (95.8 to 98.8)
 Frequency of urine0/130.0 (0.0 to 24.7)481/49497.4 (95.5 to 98.6)0/130.0 (0.0 to 24.7)481/49497.4 (95.5 to 98.6)
 Abdominal/vaginal pain2/1315.4 (1.9 to 45.5)451/49491.3 (88.5 to 93.6)2/454.4 (0.5 to 15.2)451/46297.6 (95.8 to 98.8)
 Pain during intercourse0/10.0 (0.0 to 97.5)43/4595.6 (84.9 to 99.5)0/20.0 (0.0 to 84.2)43/4497.7 (88.0 to 99.9)
 Itchy/sore vagina1/137.7 (0.2 to 36.0)467/48895.7 (93.5 to 97.3)1/224.6 (0.1 to 22.8)467/47997.5 (95.7 to 98.7)
 Malodorous smell0/130.0 (0.0 to 24.7)478/48798.2 (96.5 to 99.2)0/90.0 (0.0 to 33.6)478/49197.4 (95.5 to 98.6)
 Vaginal discharge2/1315.4 (1.9 to 45.5)439/49089.6 (86.5 to 92.2)2/533.8 (0.5 to 13.0)439/45097.6 (95.7 to 98.8)
 Any symptoms4/1330.8 (9.1 to 61.4)377/49476.3 (72.3 to 80.0)4/1213.3 (0.9 to 8.3)377/38697.7 (95.6 to 98.9)
Trichomonas vaginalis
 Heavy menstruation1/128.3 (0.2 to 38.5)464/49593.4 (90.8 to 95.4)1/322.9 (0.1 to 15.3)464/47597.7 (95.9 to 98.8)
 Between menses bleeding0/120.0 (0.0 to 26.5)475/49596.0 (93.8 to 97.5)0/200.0 (0.0 to 16.8)475/48797.5 (95.7 to 98.7)
 Burning urine1/128.3 (0.2 to 38.5)485/49598.0 (96.3 to 99.0)1/119.1 (0.2 to 41.3)485/49697.8 (96.1 to 98.9)
 Frequency of urine0/120.0 (0.0 to 26.5)483/49597.6 (95.8 to 98.7)0/120.0 (0.0 to 26.5)483/49597.6 (95.8 to 98.7)
 Abdominal/vaginal pain2/1216.7 (2.1 to 48.4)452/49591.3 (88.5 to 93.6)2/454.4 (0.5 to 15.2)452/46297.8 (96.1 to 99.0)
 Pain during intercourse2/2100 (15.8 to 100)44/44100 (92.0 to 100)2/2100 (15.8 to 100)44/44100 (92.0 to 100)
 Itchy/sore vagina1/128.3 (0.2 to 38.5)469/48995.9 (93.8 to 97.5)1/214.8 (0.1 to 23.8)469/48097.7 (95.9 to 98.9)
 Malodorous smell2/1216.7 (2.1 to 48.4)482/48898.8 (97.3 to 100)2/825.0 (3.2 to 65.1)482/49298.0 (96.3 to 100)
 Vaginal discharge2/1216.7 (2.1 to 48.4)440/49189.6 (86.6 to 92.2)2/533.8 (0.5 to 13.0)440/45097.8 (96.0 to 98.9)
 Any symptoms6/1250.0 (21.1 to 78.9)381/49577.0 (73.0 to 80.6)6/1205.0 (1.9 to 10.6)381/38798.5 (96.7 to 99.4)
Neisseria gonorrhoeae*
 Heavy menstruation1/333.3 (0.8 to 90.6)472/50493.7 (91.2 to 95.6)1/333.0 (0.1 to 15.8)472/47499.6 (98.5 to 100)
 Between menses bleeding1/333.3 (0.8 to 90.6)486/50496.4 (94.4 to 97.9)1/195.3 (0.1 to 26.0)486/48899.6 (98.5 to 100)
 Burning urine1/333.3 (0.8 to 90.6)494/50498.2 (96.4 to 99.0)1/119.1 (0.2 to 41.3)494/49699.6 (98.6 to 100)
 Frequency of urine0/30.0 (0.0 to 70.6)491/50497.4 (95.6 to 98.6)0/130.0 (0.0 to 24.7)491/49499.4 (98.6 to 99.9)
 Abdominal/vaginal pain1/333.3 (0.8 to 90.6)460/50491.3 (88.5 to 93.6)1/452.2 (0.1 to 11.8)460/46299.6 (98.5 to 100)
 Itchy/sore vagina1/333.3 (0.8 to 90.6)477/49895.8 (93.6 to 97.4)1/224.6 (0.1 to 22.8)477/47999.6 (98.5 to 100)
 Malodorous smell0/30.0 (0.0 to 70.7)488/49798.2 (96.6 to 99.1)0/90.0 (0.0 to 33.6)488/49199.4 (98.2 to 100)
 Vaginal discharge1/333.3 (0.8 to 90.6)448/50089.6 (86.6 to 92.1)1/531.9 (0.1 to 10.1)448/45099.6 (98.4 to 100)
 Any symptoms2/366.7 (9.4 to 99.1)385/50476.4 (72.3 to 80.0)2/1211.9 (0.2 to 5.8)385/38699.7 (98.6 to 100)
  • *Pain or bleed during intercourse was limited to 46 girls responding to symptoms of pain or bleeding during sexual intercourse (no data for N. gonorrhoeae).

  • †4–6 girls did not answer questions on vaginal itching, smell, discharge.

  • NPV, negative predictive value; PPV, positive predictive value.