Congenital syphilis in Argentina: temporal trends and association with income inequality, 2006-2021.

Abstract

Introduction. Congenital syphilis (CS) is a persistent public health problem, and Argentina has been experiencing an increase in its incidence in recent years. Various social factors influence the distribution of CS. The objective of this study is to describe the temporal trends in CS rates and evaluate their association with income inequality in Argentina in the period 2006-2021. Methods. An ecological study was conducted, considering the 24 Argentine jurisdictions (23 provinces plus the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires [CABA, by its Spanish acronym]) as units of analysis. CS rates were estimated by jurisdiction for each year of the study, and their temporal distribution was analyzed for the national total and by region. An exploratory analysis of the distribution of CS rates and the Gini coefficient was performed at the national level and by region. Next, mixed linear models were estimated to assess the association between the Gini coefficient and CS rates. Results. The CS rate showed an oscillating and upward trend at the national level and in most regions, with a sustained increase in the Northwest region (NOA) and recent marked increases in Cuyo. As the Gini coefficient increases, the CS rate in the provinces increases (95% CI: 0.11-0.42). Conclusion. CS rates generally showed an upward trend, with variations across different regions. Income inequality was associated with higher CS rates, highlighting the influence of structural social factors on this disease in Argentina. Income inequality was associated with higher CS rates at the provincial level, demonstrating the impact of structural factors on disparities in this disease in Argentina.