Objective: This study investigated the obstetric outcomes of herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) infection among pregnant women.
Materials and methods: In this prospective cohort study, a total of 674 consenting pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Central Hospital Benin were recruited between November 2011 and December, 2012. The women were screened for HSV-1, and HSV-2 using glycoprotein-G-based type-specific Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay on archived blood samples; and were followed up to the delivery period and postnatal clinic. The HSV-2-seronegative participants underwent second blood sampling for HSV-2 IgG and IgM assay during the delivery period. The patients were thus categorized into "HSV-2 seropositive", "HSV-2-seronegative," and "incident HSV-2 infection" cohorts. The pregnancy outcomes were assessed by review of hospital records. Data analysis was with SPSS version 16 software.
Results: Of 674 pregnant women surveyed, 312 (46.3%) were HSV-2 seropositive; while 362 (56.7%) were HSV-2 seronegative. Comparing the "HSV-2 seropositive" and "HSV-seronegative" groups, there were no significant differences in occurrence of low birth weight (LBW), prematurity, spontaneous abortions, and stillbirth events (P=0.96; 0.95; 1.0; and 0.77, respectively). Comparing the "incident HSV-2 infection" with the "HSV-2 seronegative" groups, the relative risks of occurrence of LBW deliveries, preterm deliveries, and stillbirths were 12.6, 25.1, and 4.5, respectively.
Conclusion: First episode HSV-2 infection among pregnant women in Benin, Nigeria is associated with an increased risk of occurrence of spontaneous abortion, LBW delivery, stillbirths, and preterm delivery.