Sexual and socioeconomic factors affecting the risk of past infections with herpes simplex virus type 2.

Between November 1978 and May 1980, a cross-sectional survey of 566 females and 391 males, aged 35 to 50 years, living in metropolitan Toronto, was conducted to examine the influence of socioeconomic status and sexual behavior on the occurrence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2. Antibodies to the virus were detected in 17.5% of females and 12.8% of males. Lower socioeconomic status was associated with an increased risk of herpes simplex virus type 2 seropositivity for females but not for males. An increased risk of seropositivity was associated in both sexes with young age at first intercourse, multiple sexual partners, and renting rather than owning their residence. The risk associated with each of these attributes remained when the effects of the other attributes including socioeconomic status and age at interview were controlled. The greatest risk was associated with renting. If the renting effect is real, it suggests that there is some determinant of risk not measured by this study, which is more important than socioeconomic status or sexual behavior.