Seroprevalence and risk factors of herpes simplex virus-2 among pregnant women attending antenatal care at health facilities in Wolaita zone, Ethiopia.

Antehun Alemayehu Anjulo,Adane Mihret,Tamrat Abebe,Feleke Hailemichael

doi:10.1186/s12985-016-0501-y

Antehun Alemayehu Anjulo, Adane Mihret + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-016-0501-y

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Abstract

BackgroundHerpes simplex virus type-2 is the common cause of genital ulcer disease worldwide. Genital herpes infection is a major concern in pregnancy due to the risk of neonatal transmission.MethodA Cross-sectional survey was conducted from December 2013 to September 2014 in randomly selected 28 health centers to assess the seroprevalence and risk factors of herpes simplex virus type-2 infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia. After taking written consent socio demographic, behavioral, obstetric history and family planning data along with blood samples were collected from 252 pregnant women using pre-structured questionnaire. Sera were tested using HerpeSelect-2 ELISA IgG. Data entry and analysis was done using Epi info 3.5.4 and SPSS 21.00 respectively. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify the risk factors associated with HSV-2 seropositivity. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsThe overall seroprevalence of HSV-2 infection was 32.1 % (81/252) among pregnant women in Wolaita zone. Independent predictors of HSV-2 infection includes daily laborer (AOR 1.293, 95 % CI: 1.033–1.739; p = 0.022), having one sexual partners (AOR 0.476, 95 % CI: 0 .250 –0.904; p = 0.023), history of STDs (AOR 2.822, 95 % CI: 1.50–5.289; p = 0.001) and use of contraceptive (AOR 2.602, 95 % CI: 1.407–4.812; p = 0.002).ConclusionOverall seroprevalence of HSV-2 infection among pregnant women of Wolaita Zone is high. Awareness creation among high risk groups like women who have history of STD should be strengthened. Strengthening the quality of health service delivery and expansion of health service coverage is mandatory.

Highlights

Herpes simplex virus type-2 is the common cause of genital ulcer disease worldwide
Study area and population The study was an institution based cross-sectional study conducted from December 2013 to September 2014 in selected health centers in Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia
Total of 252 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics (ANCs) in 28 health centers representing the general population were enrolled in the study

Summary

Introduction

Herpes simplex virus type-2 is the common cause of genital ulcer disease worldwide. Genital herpes infection is a major concern in pregnancy due to the risk of neonatal transmission. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is the leading cause of genital ulcer diseases (GUD) worldwide. Transmitted diseases (STDs) resulted in stigma and social discrimination in young adult women worldwide [3]. Though incidence of STDs is decreasing, In developing countries, it is uncommon to visit health facilities unless having sign and symptom of disease. Prevalence of HSV2 has been observed in higher rate in Sub-Saharan Africa and it occurs more frequently in women (30 to 50 %) than in men (10 to 50 %). More than 80 % of female commercial sex workers were infected with HSV-2 [6, 7]

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