Sexual Behavior and Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Infection in College Students

• Published in: Archives of medical research Vol. 36; no. 5; pp. 574 - 580
• Main Authors: Sánchez-Alemán, Miguel A., Conde-Glez, Carlos J., Gayet, Cecilia, García-Cisneros, Santa, Uribe-Salas, Felipe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2005
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; College students; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Herpes Genitalis - epidemiology; Herpesvirus 2, Human; HSV-2 seroprevalence; Humans; Male; Mexican population; Mexico - epidemiology; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sexual Behavior; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires; Mexico; College students; Mexican population; HSV-2 seroprevalence; Sexual behavior
• ISSN: 0188-4409; 1873-5487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2005.03.028

Given the relevance of HSV-2 infection in youth, the aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HSV-2 in college students in Cuernavaca, Mexico, as well as the sociodemographic and sexual behavioral characteristics associated with this infection. A cross-sectional study was carried out using convenience sampling with consenting students of both genders. Students answered a questionnaire and provided a blood sample to detect antibodies to HSV-2 by Western blot. To establish the magnitude of the association between the prevalence of HSV-2 infection and the selected risk factors, we estimated prevalence odds ratios by performing logistic analyses of these results Overall seroprevalence of HSV-2 was 5.9% (20/340; CI 95% 3.7–8.9), 7.0% (14/200; CI 95% 3.9–11.5) for women and 4.3% (6/140; CI 95% 1.6–9.1) for men. HSV-2 infection was independently associated with female sex (POR = 5.3, CI 95% 1.4–19.7), age (26 years and over, POR = 4.7, CI 95% 1.0–22.2), number of sexual partners over the last year (two or more partners POR = 4.1, CI 95% 1.2–14.2), a history of genital ulcers (POR = 6.1, CI 95% 1.9–19.8), and having been paid for sex (POR = 21.4, CI 95% 1.0–447.5). The frequency of HSV-2 infection among these students was lower than in other Mexican populations who have high-risk sexual behavior. However, there was a subgroup of participants identified as having high-risk sexual behavior. These individuals could, therefore, be prone to acquiring and transmitting HSV-2 infection and represent the target group for whom preventive interventions against HSV-2 and other STIs might be developed.