TY - JOUR
T1 - Antibody to herpes simplex virus type 2 as a marker of sexual risk behavior in rural Tanzania
AU - Obasi, Angela
AU - Mosha, Frank
AU - Quigley, Maria
AU - Sekirassa, Zebedayo
AU - Gibbs, Tom
AU - Munguti, Katua
AU - Todd, James
AU - Grosskurth, Heiner
AU - Mayaud, Philippe
AU - Changalucha, John
AU - Brown, David
AU - Mabey, David
AU - Hayes, Richard
PY - 1999/1/1
Y1 - 1999/1/1
N2 - A serosurvey was conducted in a random sample of 259 women and 231 men in 12 rural communities in Mwanza Region, Tanzania, using a type-specific ELISA for Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection. Seroprevalence rose steeply with age to ~75% in women ≥25 years old and 60% in men ≥30. After adjusting for age and residence, HSV-2 prevalence was higher in women who were married, in a polygamous marriage, Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA)-positive, had more lifetime sex partners, or who had not traveled. Prevalence was higher in men who were married, had lived elsewhere, had more lifetime partners, had used condoms, or were TPHA-positive. HSV-2 infection was significantly associated with recent history of genital ulcer. The association between HSV-2 infection and lifetime sex partners was strongest in those <25 years old in both sexes. This association supports the use of HSV-2 serology as a marker of risk behavior in this population, particularly among young people.
AB - A serosurvey was conducted in a random sample of 259 women and 231 men in 12 rural communities in Mwanza Region, Tanzania, using a type-specific ELISA for Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection. Seroprevalence rose steeply with age to ~75% in women ≥25 years old and 60% in men ≥30. After adjusting for age and residence, HSV-2 prevalence was higher in women who were married, in a polygamous marriage, Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay (TPHA)-positive, had more lifetime sex partners, or who had not traveled. Prevalence was higher in men who were married, had lived elsewhere, had more lifetime partners, had used condoms, or were TPHA-positive. HSV-2 infection was significantly associated with recent history of genital ulcer. The association between HSV-2 infection and lifetime sex partners was strongest in those <25 years old in both sexes. This association supports the use of HSV-2 serology as a marker of risk behavior in this population, particularly among young people.
U2 - 10.1086/314555
DO - 10.1086/314555
M3 - Article
VL - 179
SP - 16
EP - 24
JO - Journal of Infectious Disease
JF - Journal of Infectious Disease
IS - 1
ER -