Abstract:

Background and objectives: Stillbirth is a common problem in low and middle income countries whereby more than 55% of cases occurs in Sub Saharan Africa. Despite being common in the most of these countries etiologies of these cases was not been well studies. Herpes simplex virus -2 (HSV-2) has been implicated as one of the pathogens causing stillbirth. Despite being common in this region, there is limited information on its prevalence among women with macerated stillbirth. The aim of this study was to asses’ seroprevalence of HSV2 and associated factors among women with macerated still birth in Mwanza Tanzania.

Methods: A cross sectional hospital based study involving 279 women with macerated stillbirth was conducted in Mwanza region from June to July 2018. Socio-demographic, obstetric and other relevant information were collected by pre tested structured data collection tool. Sera were tested for HSV-2 specific IgG and IgM antibodies using rapid Immunochromatographic test as per manufacturer’s instructions. Data analysis was done using STATA version 13 as per study objectives.

Results: The median age of enrolled women was 27, IQR: 22-34 years and median gestation age 37, IQR: 34-38 weeks. Out of 279 women 28 (10.04%), 95% CI: 6.8-13.9) were HSV-2 IgG seropositive while out of 279 women 4 (1.43%, 95% CI: 0.03 – 2.8) were HSV-2 IgM seropositive. By multivariable logistic regression analysis only increase in age (OR: 0.93 95% CI: 0.87-0.99 P<0.003) was found to predict HSV-2 IgG seropositivity among women with macerated still birth in Mwanza Tanzania.

Conclusion and Recommendations: The prevalence HSV-2 among women with macerated stillbirth in Mwanza is high and is predicted by decrease in age. Further studies to establish causal effect relationship are recommended in this setting.