Analysis of Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 infection in women with high risksexual behaviour in Mexico

Background This paper describes the seroprevalence and risk factors of Herp es simplex virus (HSV) infection in a group of female prostitutes from Mexi co City. Methods Women who consented to participate in the study voluntarily attende d a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic during 1992. A standardized q uestionnaire was administered and a blood sample was obtained from each par ticipant. Type-specific Western blot serology was performed to determine th e serostatus of HSV-1 and HSV-2 for participants. Bivariate and multivariat e analyses were applied to identify variables associated with an increased risk for HSV infection. Results Prevalences of infection among the 997 prostitutes studied were 93. 9% for HSV-1 and 60.8% far HSV-2. Only 1.8% of the women were seronegative for both viruses. The only variable associated with HSV-I seropositivity wa s crowding index. The following variables were associated with an increased risk for infection with HSV-2: age, level of education, working site, born outside Mexico City and increasing time as a prostitute. Conclusions This is the first assessment of HSV infection in Mexico and may be useful for the development and application of control and preventive me asures among the prostitute population at risk of acquiring and transmittin g human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other STD.