RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Human alphaherpesvirus 2 (HSV-2) among female sex workers from Brazil: cross-sectional study using respondent-driven sampling
JF Sexually Transmitted Infections
JO Sex Transm Infect
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 461
OP 464
DO 10.1136/sextrans-2019-054400
VO 97
IS 6
A1 Lyana Rodrigues Pinto Lima
A1 Nathália Alves Araujo Almeida
A1 Marco Aurélio Pereira Horta
A1 Vinicius S Belo
A1 Alexandre Santos da Silva
A1 Gina Jonasson Mousquer Capelin
A1 Fernanda Rodas Pires Fernandes
A1 Marco Antonio Moreira Puga
A1 Grazielli Rocha de Rezende
A1 Tayana Serpa Ortiz Tanaka
A1 Lisie Souza Castro
A1 Ana Rita Coimbra Motta-Castro
A1 Vanessa Salete de Paula
YR 2021
UL http://sti.bmj.com/content/97/6/461.abstract
AB Objective Female sex workers (FSWs) are vulnerable to human alphaherpesvirus 2 (HSV-2) infection due to their high numbers of sexual partners. The objective of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence and risk behaviours associated with HSV-2.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. A total of 376 FSWs were recruited by respondent-driven sampling (RDS) methodology and answered an epidemiological questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to test for HSV-2 antibodies using commercial ELISA and for HSV-2 DNA using real-time PCR.Results The seropositivity was 47.3% (178/376) for HSV-2 IgG and 10.1% (38/376) for HSV-2 IgM. HSV-2 viraemia was detected in two infected FSWs with primary infections. In bivariate and multivariate analyses, the OR for HSV-2 IgG increased with age (OR=2.53–7.90, OR=2.66–6.37) and the number of sexual partners (OR=2.30–3.25). On the other hand, daily alcohol consumption (OR=0.10) and the use of condoms during the last intercourse (OR=0.47) were protective factors against HSV-2 acquisition.Conclusion Despite the impact of FSWs in public health policies with the dissemination of sexually transmitted infections, there have been few studies performed regarding the prevalence of HSV-2 in Brazil, making it difficult to implement any control or preventative measures. The results produced here using an RDS methodology demonstrated a high prevalence, risk behaviours and primary infection among the FSWs. These results reinforce the need to implement control and preventative measures for HSV-2 infection in this population.All data relevant to the study are included in the article.