Syphilis and pregnancy

estimate of ocurrence and risk factors in pregnant women under the care of maternidade escola - Ufrj

Abstract

Background: Syphilis is a sexually transmissible desease which, during pregnancy, may have disastrous effects on the fetus. Its occurrence rate is reckoned at 5% by the City Health Secretariat. Knowledge of that rate favors a better approach to both diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Objective: Determine the rate of syphilis occurrence and risk factors in the Maternidade Escola – UFRJ, from January 1994 to December 1999. Method: Our study covered 5,519 women who went into labor under our care. Every patient who tested positive for VDRL with anytime during pregnancy was considered infected. VDRL-positiveness was cross-referred to neonatal death occurrence, mother’s age, marital status and education, as well as to pre-birth assistance. Results: a 2.2% VDRL-positive rate was found among the 5,519 pregnant women. A statistically significant correlation between VDRL positiveness and the mother’s education level, as well as between VDRL positiveness and the number of pre-birth appointment Conclusions: Education levels as well as the quality of pre-birth assistance are risk factors for syphilis infection during pregnancy.