The prevalence, incidence and risk factors of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection among pregnant Zimbabwean women followed up nine months after childbirth

Table 3 Univariate analysis of risk factors for seroconverting within 9 months after childbirth

Variable	n	HSV-2 seroconversion	Incidence Risk ratio (IRR) (95%CI)	P value
Total	173	20 (11.7)
Age group
<20 yrs	40	6(15.0%)	Referent
20-24 yrs	81	10(12.4%)	0.8(0.3-12.1)	0.685
25-29 yrs	29	1(3.5%)	0.2(0.0-1.8)	0.164
30-34 yrs	13	2 (15.4%)	1.0(0.2-4.5)	0.973
>34 yrs	10	1(10.0%)	0.7(0.1-5.0)	0.692
Marital status*
Single	5	0	Referent
Married	167	20(12.0%)	Incalculable	1.000**
Polygamy
No	160	16(10.0%)	Referent
Yes	9	4(44.4%)	4.4(1.9-10.6)	0.001**
Educational level
>Primary school	149	17(11.4%)	Referent
= <Primary school	24	3(12.5%)	1.1(0.3-3.5)	0.877**
Age at sexual debut (years)*
>16 years	153	14 (9.2%)	Referent
≤16 years	18	6 (33.3%)	3.6(1.6-8.3)	0.002
Abstain from sex during pregnancy*
Yes	40	4 (10.0%)	Referent
No	131	16 (12.2%)	1.2 (0.4-3.5%)	0.706**
Resumed sex after delivery*
Six weeks after birth
No	88	11(12.6%)	Referent
Yes	40	6 (15.0%)	1.2 (0.5-3.0)	0.699
Four months after birth
No	10	1 (10.0%)	Referent
Yes	74	10 (13.5%)	1.4 (0.2-9.6)	0.763**
Nine months after birth
No	12	0 (0)	Referent
Yes	131	12 (9.2)	Incalculable	0.273**
Cleanse the vagina*
No	7	0 (0)	Referent
Yes	166	20 (12.1)	Incalculable	0.329**
Ever used intravaginal herbs*
No	147	16 (10.9%)	Referent
Yes	25	4 (16.0%)	1.5 (0.5-4.0)	0.461**
Clinical genital ulcer*
No	151	18 (11.3%)	Referent
Yes	2	0	Incalculable	0.615**
Clinical genital warts*
No	146	15 (10.4%)	Referent
Yes	9	2 (22.2%)	2.2 (0.6-8.1)	0.251**

ISSN: 1472-6874