title: Obstetric outcomes of human herpes virus-2 infection among pregnant women in Benin, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the obstetric outcomes of herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) infection among pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective cohort study, a total of 674 consenting pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Central Hospital Benin were recruited between November 2011 and December, 2012. The women were screened for HSV-1, and HSV-2 using glycoprotein-G-based type-specific Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay on archived blood samples; and were followed up to the delivery period and postnatal clinic. The HSV-2-seronegative participants underwent second blood sampling for HSV-2 IgG and IgM assay during the delivery period. The patients were thus categorized into "HSV-2 seropositive", "HSV-2-seronegative," and "incident HSV-2 infection" cohorts. The pregnancy outcomes were assessed by review of hospital records. Data analysis was with SPSS version 16 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 674 pregnant women surveyed, 312 (46.3%) were HSV-2 seropositive; while 362 (56.7%) were HSV-2 seronegative. Comparing the "HSV-2 seropositive" and "HSV-seronegative" groups, there were no significant differences in occurrence of low birth weight (LBW), prematurity, spontaneous abortions, and stillbirth events (P=0.96; 0.95; 1.0; and 0.77, respectively). Comparing the "incident HSV-2 infection" with the "HSV-2 seronegative" groups, the relative risks of occurrence of LBW deliveries, preterm deliveries, and stillbirths were 12.6, 25.1, and 4.5, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  First episode HSV-2 infection among pregnant women in Benin, Nigeria is associated with an increased risk of occurrence of spontaneous abortion, LBW delivery, stillbirths, and preterm delivery.
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Kalu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Ojide
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chuku
authors.forename: I I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Chukwuonye
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Agwu
authors.forename: V U
authors.initials: VU
authors.lastname: Nwadike
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Korie
authors.forename: G O C
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Okafor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral