Epidemiological profile of the reported cases of maternal and congenital syphilis in a reference maternity hospital from Belo Horizonte

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Syphilis is an infectious contagious disease caused by bacterium Treponema pallidum, with predominantly sexual transmission. In untreated or inadequately treated pregnant women, the infection occurs transplacentally. PURPOSE: To trace the epidemiological profile of the maternal and congenital syphilis cases. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study conducted through access to the syphilis cases reported from January to June 2020, in a maternity hospital that is a reference in maternal and childcare in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. RESULTS: A total of 232 reported cases of congenital syphilis were identified in this period and the prevalence of the disease was 4.3%. Among the pregnant women, 69% are aged between 20 and 34 years old, 14.65% have complete elementary school, and 43.1% are brown-skinned. As for the cases of vertical transmission, 87.5% attended prenatal care, 23.3% were diagnosed with syphilis at the time of delivery and, in 15.1% there was concomitant treatment of the partners. CONCLUSION: In the maternity hospital under study, the prevalence of congenital syphilis is high. The results show the need for improvement in the control of syphilis during pregnancy.

Keywords

• congenital syphilis
• epidemiology
• prenatal care