Syphilis in during pregnancy: association of maternal and perinatal characteristics in a region of southern Brazil

• Published in: Revista latino-americana de enfermagem Vol. 26; p. e3019
• Main Authors: Padovani, Camila, Oliveira, Rosana Rosseto de, Pelloso, Sandra Marisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto / Universidade de São Paulo 09-08-2018; Universidade de São Paulo
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Brazil - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Maternal and Child Health; NURSING; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - epidemiology; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Syphilis; Syphilis - epidemiology; Syphilis, Congenital; Syphilis, Congenital - epidemiology; Young Adult; Brazil; Enfermedades de Transmisión Sexual; Sífilis Congênita; Risk Factors; Salud Materno-Infantil; Gestação; Fatores de Risco; Syphilis, Congenital; Pregnancy; Factores de Riesgo; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Doenças Sexualmente Transmissíveis; Embarazo; Syphilis; Sífilis Congénita; Sífilis; Maternal and Child Health; Saúde Materno-Infantil
• ISSN: 1518-8345; 1518-8345
• DOI: 10.1590/1518-8345.2305.3019

To analyze the prevalence of syphilis in during pregnancy and its association with socioeconomic characteristics, reproductive history, prenatal and labor care, and newborn characteristics.
A retrospective, cross-sectional study based on gestational and congenital syphilis reports. A (records) linkage was performed in the Brazilian databases: "Information System for Notifiable Diseases" (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação - SINAN); "Live Births Information System" (Sistema de Informação sobre Nascidos Vivos - SINASC); and "Mortality Information System" (Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade - SIM).
The prevalence of gestational syphilis was 0.57%. The following associations of syphilis in pregnancy were found: non-white skin color/ethnicity (PR=4.6, CI=3.62-5.76); low educational level (PR=15.4; CI=12.60-18.86); and absence of prenatal care (PR=7.4, CI=3.68-14.9). The perinatal outcomes associated with gestational syphilis were prematurity (PR=1.6 CI=1.17-2.21) and low birth weight (PR=1.6; CI=1.14-2.28). Two deaths from congenital syphilis, one death from another cause and five stillbirths were reported.
The results signify a long way until reaching the World Health Organization's goal of eradicating congenital syphilis.