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Yenew Kebede, Wendelien Dorigo-Zetsma, Yohannes Mengistu, Yared Mekonnen, Ab Schaap, Dawit Wolday, Eduard J. Sanders, Tsehaynesh Messele, Roel A. Coutinho, Nicole H. T. M. Dukers, Transmission of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 among Factory Workers in Ethiopia, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 190, Issue 2, 15 July 2004, Pages 365–372, https://doi.org/10.1086/422038
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Abstract
The herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemics are believed to fuel each other, especially in sub-Saharan countries. In Ethiopia during 1997–2002, a retrospective study was conducted to examine risk factors for infection and transmission of HSV-2, in a cohort of 1612 factory workers. Prevalence of HSV-2 seropositivity at enrollment was 40.9%, and incidence of seroconversion was 1.8 seroconversions/100 person-years (PY), which decreased over time. Independent risk factors for seropositivity were having an HSV-2-seropositive partner, female sex, HIV antibodies, positive Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay result, older age, low education level, and orthodox religion. These same factors were independent risk factors for HSV-2 seroconversion, with the exception of the latter 3. Most HSV-2-infected persons did not report symptoms. Among 41 monogamous HSV-2-serodiscordant heterosexual couples, incidence of HSV-2 seroconversion was 20.75 seroconversions/100 PY for women and 4.93 seroconversions/100 PY for men. The high burden of both HSV-2 and HIV infection in Ethiopia warrants stringent control measures.