Herpes simplex virus type 2 prevalence of epidemic proportions in rural Zimbabwean women: association with other sexually transmitted infections.
BACKGROUND
Syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is one important strategy in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention in developing countries, but there is a scarcity of rural community-based data on the relative prevalences of the STIs. We sought to determine the prevalences of the STIs and their clinical correlates in rural Zimbabwean women.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 527 sexually active, non-pregnant, non-menopausal women between the ages of 20 and 49 years.


RESULTS
The seroprevalence for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), HIV, trichomoniasis and syphilis were 64.5, 29.3, 24.7 and 6.2% respectively. HSV-2 seropositivity was significantly associated with current non-syphilitic ulcers (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-22.34, p = 0.040). HSV-2 seroprevalence peaked at the age of 35 whereas HIV peaked at 25. The two diseases were strongly associated (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.85-4.65, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
There is evidence of rural epidemics of both HSV-2 and HIV, and a change in the aetiology of genital ulcers in rural Zimbabwe.
Kjetland
Eyrun Floerecke
EF
Department of Infectious Diseases, Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Ullevaal University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway. e.f.kjetland@medisin.uio.no
Gwanzura
Lovemore
L
Ndhlovu
Patricia D
PD
Mduluza
Takafira
T
Gomo
Exnevia
E
Mason
Peter R
PR
Midzi
Nicholas
N
Friis
Henrik
H
Gundersen
Svein Gunnar
SG
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral