Socio-demographic characteristics and sex practices related to herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in Mexican and Central American female sex workers

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between HSV-2 infection and several socio-demographic and sexual practices of Mexican and Central American female sex workers (FSWs) in the Soconusco region in the State of Chiapas, Mexico. A cross-sectional study was carried out based on a sample frame of bars where FSWs were active in the Soconusco region. FSWs consented to investigations and answered a questionnaire and provided a blood sample for specific HSV-2 antibody analysis. One hundred and sixteen bars were studied and 484 women were interviewed. The overall frequency of HSV-2 infected women was 85.7 %. Variables that reflected exposure to HSV-2 were significantly associated with the frequency of the infection. Additionally, variables such as education and country of origin were significantly associated with HSV-2 infection. These results suggest that this infection is highly endemic in the Soconusco, posing a health risk for the study population.