International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases of public health importance that affect the reproductive health of the general population. Genital herpes contributes to the burden of STIs, affecting 520 million people globally. Infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is lifelong and poses a risk of reactivation among immunosuppressed individuals. Recurrent genital herpes can be debilitating and can severely impair the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLHIV). This study aimed to determine the serological prevalence of HSV-2 among PLHIV and assess its relationship with disease severity.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 92 PLHIV aged 18–70 years who were recruited using simple random sampling at the Virology Research Clinic of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The sample size was determined using the Kish formula. Data were collected using a pro forma and analysed using IBM SPSS version 25.0, and the presence of HSV-2 antibodies was confirmed using ELISA.

Results: The mean age of PLHIV was 37.95 ± 10.41 years. The seroprevalence of HSV-2 among PLHIV was 41.3%. The prevalence of HSV-2 among PLHIV with early and advanced HIV disease was 39.4% and 46.2%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (X² = 0.352, P = 0.640). The associations with CD4⁺ count (X² = 2.182, P = 0.366), age (X² = 0.065, P = 0.968), and gender (X² = 1.160, P = 0.281) were not significant. The logistic regression model accounted for 10.4% to 14.0% of the variance in HSV-2 positivity. The full logistic regression model, which included age, gender, education level, and marital status, was statistically significant (X²(4) = 9.981, P = 0.041).

Conclusion: The findings reveal a high burden of HSV-2 seropositivity among PLHIV, underscoring the need to prevent HSV-2 reactivation by delaying HIV disease progression.