title: Seroprevalence and risk factors of herpes simplex virus-2 among pregnant women attending antenatal care at health facilities in Wolaita zone, Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Herpes simplex virus type-2 is the common cause of genital ulcer disease worldwide. Genital herpes infection is a major concern in pregnancy due to the risk of neonatal transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Cross-sectional survey was conducted from December 2013 to September 2014 in randomly selected 28 health centers to assess the seroprevalence and risk factors of herpes simplex virus type-2 infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia. After taking written consent socio demographic, behavioral, obstetric history and family planning data along with blood samples were collected from 252 pregnant women using pre-structured questionnaire. Sera were tested using HerpeSelect-2 ELISA IgG. Data entry and analysis was done using Epi info 3.5.4 and SPSS 21.00 respectively. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify the risk factors associated with HSV-2 seropositivity. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall seroprevalence of HSV-2 infection was 32.1 % (81/252) among pregnant women in Wolaita zone. Independent predictors of HSV-2 infection includes daily laborer (AOR 1.293, 95 % CI: 1.033-1.739; p = 0.022), having one sexual partners (AOR 0.476, 95 % CI: 0 .250 -0.904; p = 0.023), history of STDs (AOR 2.822, 95 % CI: 1.50-5.289; p = 0.001) and use of contraceptive (AOR 2.602, 95 % CI: 1.407-4.812; p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall seroprevalence of HSV-2 infection among pregnant women of Wolaita Zone is high. Awareness creation among high risk groups like women who have history of STD should be strengthened. Strengthening the quality of health service delivery and expansion of health service coverage is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, College of Health sciences and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, P. O. Box: 138, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia. Antehunalemayehu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Antehun Alemayehu
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Anjulo
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Tamrat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abebe
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, College of Health sciences and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, P. O. Box: 138, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Feleke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hailemichael
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.|Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Adane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mihret
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D065288:Serogroup; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Genital herpes; Herpes simplex virus type-2; Pregnant women