High Prevalence of Syphilis and Inadequate Prenatal Care in Brazilian Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

High Prevalence of Syphilis and Inadequate Prenatal Care in Brazilian Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2019 Aug 12;: Authors: Benedetti KCSV, Ribeiro ADDC, Queiroz JHFS, Melo ABD, Batista RB, Delgado FM, Silva KED, Croda J, Simionatto S Abstract In Brazil, the reported number of syphilis cases among pregnant women has markedly increased. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of Treponema pallidum infection and associated factors in pregnant women in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Participants voluntarily completed a risk-factor questionnaire and provided blood specimens for unlinked anonymous testing for the presence of antibodies against T. pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis. Data of newborns were obtained from medical records. We performed univariate and multivariate regression analyses to assess associations with syphilis. The seroprevalence of syphilis in pregnant women was 4.4% (n = 29/661). Twenty-five newborns were seropositive for T. pallidum, and complications due to syphilis were observed in 28% (n = 7/25). Although 96.5% (n = 28/29) of women with syphilis received antenatal care, Venereal Disease Research Laboratory tests were performed in the first trimester for 47.6% (n = 10/21) of women. Women who received treatment in the third trimester (28.6%; n = 6/21) were considered successfully treated at the time of delivery. The use of illicit drugs during preg...
Source: Am J Trop Med Hyg - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research