Knowledge and attitude towards Herpes Simplex Virus-2 in Al-Jouf region, Saudi Arabia
Introduction: Herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) infection is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that causes genital ulcers. The prevalence of HSV-2 increases because of its asymptomatic shedding. This study aimed to evaluate community knowledge and attitude toward HSV-2 infection in Al-Jouf reg...
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The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
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| Online Access: | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20030 |
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| author | Amany A Ghazy Mohammed A Albalawi Omar K Alzarea Sultan D Alanazi Abdullah H Alruwaili Ahmad Y ALmandil Abdullah M Alfuhigi Areej K Alsharari Youssef A Shatara |
| author_facet | Amany A Ghazy Mohammed A Albalawi Omar K Alzarea Sultan D Alanazi Abdullah H Alruwaili Ahmad Y ALmandil Abdullah M Alfuhigi Areej K Alsharari Youssef A Shatara |
| author_sort | Amany A Ghazy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction: Herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) infection is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that causes genital ulcers. The prevalence of HSV-2 increases because of its asymptomatic shedding. This study aimed to evaluate community knowledge and attitude toward HSV-2 infection in Al-Jouf region.
Methodology: 410 participants were enrolled in the study and they filled out a questionnaire on HSV-2 and its complications.
Results: Of the 410 participants, 106 individuals were excluded from the study because they resided outside Al-Jouf. Of the remaining 304 participants, 56% were females, 44% were aged between 21–30 years, 84% were university graduates, 56% were single, and 40% were married. Only 58% of participants knew that HSV-2 is an STD, and less than 50% knew that HSV-2 infection can occur many times and can be transmitted from asymptomatic individuals. Regarding their attitude, only 32.5% participants agreed to use a condom if they had sores, 27% agreed to use the condom if they had more than one wife, and more than half of participants responded that they did not know.
Conclusions: A considerable proportion of the youth (21–30 years old) did not know that HSV-2 infection is an STD that can occur many times, may remain asymptomatic, and is transmitted from asymptomatic partners or from the mother to her fetus. They were also not aware how to protect themselves from this infectious disease. Thus, educational and health awareness campaigns are required to raise the level of knowledge on HSV-2 infection, including its prevention, and control.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bf217e90893b467fa31443b017372ba2 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1972-2680 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| spelling | doaj-art-bf217e90893b467fa31443b017372ba22025-08-20T02:16:17ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802024-12-01181210.3855/jidc.20030Knowledge and attitude towards Herpes Simplex Virus-2 in Al-Jouf region, Saudi ArabiaAmany A Ghazy0Mohammed A Albalawi1Omar K Alzarea2Sultan D Alanazi3Abdullah H Alruwaili4Ahmad Y ALmandil5Abdullah M Alfuhigi6Areej K Alsharari7Youssef A Shatara8Microbiology and Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, Jouf University, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, Jouf University, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, Jouf University, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, Jouf University, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, Jouf University, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, Jouf University, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, Jouf University, Saudi ArabiaFaculty of Medicine, Alexandria National University, Egypt Introduction: Herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) infection is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that causes genital ulcers. The prevalence of HSV-2 increases because of its asymptomatic shedding. This study aimed to evaluate community knowledge and attitude toward HSV-2 infection in Al-Jouf region. Methodology: 410 participants were enrolled in the study and they filled out a questionnaire on HSV-2 and its complications. Results: Of the 410 participants, 106 individuals were excluded from the study because they resided outside Al-Jouf. Of the remaining 304 participants, 56% were females, 44% were aged between 21–30 years, 84% were university graduates, 56% were single, and 40% were married. Only 58% of participants knew that HSV-2 is an STD, and less than 50% knew that HSV-2 infection can occur many times and can be transmitted from asymptomatic individuals. Regarding their attitude, only 32.5% participants agreed to use a condom if they had sores, 27% agreed to use the condom if they had more than one wife, and more than half of participants responded that they did not know. Conclusions: A considerable proportion of the youth (21–30 years old) did not know that HSV-2 infection is an STD that can occur many times, may remain asymptomatic, and is transmitted from asymptomatic partners or from the mother to her fetus. They were also not aware how to protect themselves from this infectious disease. Thus, educational and health awareness campaigns are required to raise the level of knowledge on HSV-2 infection, including its prevention, and control. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20030HSVsexually transmitted diseasesknowledgeattitudeAl-Jouf regionSaudi Arabia |
| spellingShingle | Amany A Ghazy Mohammed A Albalawi Omar K Alzarea Sultan D Alanazi Abdullah H Alruwaili Ahmad Y ALmandil Abdullah M Alfuhigi Areej K Alsharari Youssef A Shatara Knowledge and attitude towards Herpes Simplex Virus-2 in Al-Jouf region, Saudi Arabia Journal of Infection in Developing Countries HSV sexually transmitted diseases knowledge attitude Al-Jouf region Saudi Arabia |
| title | Knowledge and attitude towards Herpes Simplex Virus-2 in Al-Jouf region, Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Knowledge and attitude towards Herpes Simplex Virus-2 in Al-Jouf region, Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and attitude towards Herpes Simplex Virus-2 in Al-Jouf region, Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and attitude towards Herpes Simplex Virus-2 in Al-Jouf region, Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Knowledge and attitude towards Herpes Simplex Virus-2 in Al-Jouf region, Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | knowledge and attitude towards herpes simplex virus 2 in al jouf region saudi arabia |
| topic | HSV sexually transmitted diseases knowledge attitude Al-Jouf region Saudi Arabia |
| url | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20030 |
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