Prevalence of syphilis and associated factors in the adult population treated at healthcare facilities in Vitória (ES), Brazil

Authors

  • Joaquim Batista Ferreira-Filho Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo – Vitória (ES), Brazil
  • Pâmela Cristina Gaspar Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade de Brasília – Brasília (DF), Brasil
  • Alisson Bigolin Department of Chronic Conditions and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Health Surveillance Bureau, Ministry of Health – Brasília (DF), Brazil
  • Maria do Perétuo Socorro Vendramini Orletti Espírito Santo Blood Center – Vitória (ES), Brazil
  • Fausto Edmundo Lima Pereira Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo – Vitória (ES), Brazil
  • Angélica Espinosa Miranda Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo – Vitória (ES), Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5327/dst-2177-8264-20213328

Keywords:

syphilis, serology, prevalence, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: There are few population-sampling studies on the prevalence of syphilis in Brazil. Objectives: We aim to determine the seroprevalence
of syphilis and identify factors associated with the infection in adult patients observed at six regional healthcare facilities in Vitória city, state of Espírito
Santo, Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2010 and December 2011. For individuals included in the study,
a Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test and two treponemal tests (immunochromatographic and IgG ELISA assays) were performed.
Demographic data, history of sexually transmitted infections, and behavioral data were collected. Results: Of the 1,502 subjects included in the study,
47% were men and 53% were women. The mean age was 41.63±14.57 years. The prevalence of syphilis was (0.9%; 95%CI 0.4–1.3) when a diagnosis of
syphilis was considered with VDRL titers equal to or greater than 1:8. However, the prevalence was higher (2.8%) when a positive VDRL test, regardless
of the titer, was considered. A multivariate analysis showed a significant association between syphilis and homosexual or bisexual behavior [OR=6.80;
95%CI 1.00–46.20], prior history of sexually transmitted infection [OR=16.30; 95%CI 3.61–73.41], the presence of a tattoo [OR=6.21; 95%CI 1.49–
25.84], and cocaine use [OR=6.80; 95%CI 1.15–40.30]. The prevalence of positive treponemal test was 10.4%. Conclusion: The seroprevalence of
active syphilis in this population was similar to that observed in other populational studies in Brazil. The high prevalence of positive treponemal tests
may be due to the positive serological memory of a cured infection, but the results may also be due to cases of early or late syphilis that were not detected
by the VDRL test.

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Published

2022-02-22

How to Cite

1.
Ferreira-Filho JB, Gaspar PC, Bigolin A, Orletti M do PSV, Pereira FEL, Miranda AE. Prevalence of syphilis and associated factors in the adult population treated at healthcare facilities in Vitória (ES), Brazil. DST [Internet]. 2022 Feb. 22 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];33. Available from: https://bjstd.org/revista/article/view/1168

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Original Article