engleski

Objective identification of sexual risk behavior among blood donors in Croatia : is it reality?

The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of blood donors positive for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), to identify the patterns of risk sexual behavior responsible for HSV-2 positivity and to assess the reliability of HSV-2 positivity as a marker of risk sexual behavior in the study population. This cross-sectional study included 423 blood donors of both sexes from east Croatia. Their blood samples were tested by ELISA IgG test kit for HSV-2 IgG and Western blot. Data on risk sexual behavior were collected by use of an anonymous questionnaire. Western blot testing showed HSV-2 IgG antibodies in 14 of 423 (3.3 %) donor blood samples. The most common patterns of risk sexual behavior potentially associated with test positivity were irregular condom use on sexual intercourse with new partners (294/423 ; 69.5 %) and 5 sexual partners during lifetime (213/423 ; 50.4 %). The population of blood donors from east Croatia included subgroups of subjects characterized by risk sexual behavior. Study results pointed to a relationship between various forms of risk sexual behavior and HSV-2 positivity, which could therefore serve as a reliable marker of risk sexual behavior in the study population.

herpes simplex virus type 2; blood donor; sexual behavior; blood transfusion; Croatia

nije evidentirano