title: Herpes simplex virus type 2 prevalence of epidemic proportions in rural Zimbabwean women: association with other sexually transmitted infections.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Centre for Imported and Tropical Diseases, Ullevaal University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway. e.f.kjetland@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Eyrun Floerecke
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Kjetland
authors.forename: Lovemore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gwanzura
authors.forename: Patricia D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Ndhlovu
authors.forename: Takafira
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mduluza
authors.forename: Exnevia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gomo
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Midzi
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Friis
authors.forename: Svein Gunnar
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Gundersen
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral