Prevalence of HIV, herpes simplex virus-2, and syphilis in male sex partners of pregnant women in Peru.
BACKGROUND
Sexually active heterosexual men may represent an important risk factor for HIV infection and STI transmission to their female partners and unborn children, though little is known about the prevalence of STIs in this population. We sought to determine the prevalence of HIV, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), and syphilis infection and associated risk behaviors among male sex partners of pregnant women in Peru.


METHODS
Survey and seroprevalence data were collected from 1,835 male partners of pregnant women in four cities in Peru. Serum was tested for antibodies to HIV, HSV-2, and syphilis.


RESULTS
Among the 1,835 male participants, HIV prevalence was 0.8% (95% CI = 0.5-1.4%), HSV-2 16.0% (95% CI = 14.3-17.8%), and syphilis 1.6% (95% CI = 1.0-2.2%). Additionally, 11.0% reported a lifetime history of intercourse with men, and 37.1% with female sex workers. Unprotected intercourse with men during the previous year was reported by 0.9% and with female sex workers by 1.2%.


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnant women's sex partners reported lifetime sexual contact with core risk groups, had an elevated prevalence of HSV-2, and demonstrated the potential to spread HIV and other STIs to their partners. Though the prevalence of HIV in the population was not significantly higher than observed in other samples of heterosexuals in Peru, the risk of HIV transmission to their female partners may be exacerbated by their increased prevalence of HSV-2 infection. Further study of heterosexual populations is necessary to fully understand the epidemiology of HIV/STIs in Latin America.
Clark
Jesse L
JL
University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA. jlclark@mednet.ucla.edu
Konda
Kelika A
KA
Munayco
Cesar V
CV
Pún
Monica
M
Lescano
Andres G
AG
Leon
Segundo R
SR
Pajuelo
Jose
J
Suarez-Ognio
Luis
L
Klausner
Jeffrey D
JD
Coates
Thomas J
TJ
Cáceres
Carlos F
CF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral