Congenital Syphilis: The Profile Analysis among Postpartum Women in Brazil

Abstract

Congenital Syphilis (SC) is an infection with serious consequences that increased in recent decades in Brazil. Aim: To analyze the socio-demographic and obstetrics profiles among women with new-born babies diagnosed with congenital syphilis in a maternity hospital in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Method: A case-control study, exploratory, using a quantitative approach. Twenty-seven women after delivery were interviewed during the period from July to September 2015. Results: Of the 27 women, 70% are between 19 and 35 years of age, 67% had between 9-12 years of study, were housewives (74%), 70% reported brown colour, were single (56%), 78% reported two or more previous pregnancies, 93% had had appointment at prenatal care program in their current pregnancy, more than 52% attended 4 follow-up, 56% started this follow up in the second quarter, 78% had vaginal delivery, were 59% diagnosed with syphilis during the prenatal care, 68% received treatment, 85% have partners not treated. Conclusion: Most women whose new-borns were diagnosed with congenital syphilis had been at a prenatal care program, when she was diagnosed and treated. However, the majority of their partners did not treat. Faced with the failure of treatment of syphilis during pregnancy, more effective actions are needed to improve the quality of prenatal care, in order to prevent congenital syphilis.