Seroprevalence of and risk factors for antibodies to herpes simplex viruses, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C among southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women.
OBJECTIVE
Few published data describe the seroprevalence of antibodies to herpes viruses and hepatitis viruses among Southwestern minority women.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-1 and type-2, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C among 595 southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients seeking gynecologic care; and to investigate risk factors associated with seropositivity.


METHODS
Analysis of serologic and interview data. Antibody assays were based on purified glycoprotein assays (herpes simplex virus), and commercial assays for hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus.


RESULTS
Hispanic ethnicity was a risk factor for herpes simplex virus type-1 (age-adjusted odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-5.3) but was not associated with antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-2, hepatitis B virus, or hepatitis C virus. Risks associated with seropositivity to herpes simplex virus type-2 included a high lifetime number of sex partners, history of any sexually transmitted disease, and increasing age. Among all patients with herpes simplex virus type-2 antibodies, only 11.1% gave histories of genital herpes infection. For women with antibodies to hepatitis B virus, 31.1% gave histories of hepatitis during adulthood.


CONCLUSIONS
The seroprevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-1 and herpes simplex virus type-2 was high in this clinic population; the prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-1 was significantly higher in Hispanics than in non-Hispanic whites. Antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-2 and hepatitis B virus were associated with most indicator of sexual behavior. The high prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-2 and the infrequent reporting of histories of genital herpes suggest that asymptomatic infection with herpes is common among these clinic patients.
Becker
T M
TM
University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131-5306, USA.
Lee
F
F
Daling
J R
JR
Nahmias
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology