High Prevalence of Syphilis among Young Pregnant Women in the Brazilian Amazon: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Clinical Records in a Public Health Reference Unit in the City of Belém
Ana Paula Figueiredo de Montalvão França,
Camille Massena de Sousa,
Misma Suely Gonçalves Araújo de Lima,
Ricardo Roberto de Souza Fonseca,
Rogério Valois Laurentino,
Jacqueline Cortinhas Monteiro,
Rosimar Neris Mantins Feitosa,
Leonardo Miranda dos Santos,
Aldemir Branco Oliveira-Filho,
Luiz Fernando Almeida Machado
Affiliations
Ana Paula Figueiredo de Montalvão França
Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
Camille Massena de Sousa
Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
Misma Suely Gonçalves Araújo de Lima
Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
Ricardo Roberto de Souza Fonseca
Virology Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
Rogério Valois Laurentino
Virology Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
Jacqueline Cortinhas Monteiro
Virology Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
Rosimar Neris Mantins Feitosa
Virology Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
Leonardo Miranda dos Santos
Bacteriology Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
Aldemir Branco Oliveira-Filho
Study and Research Group on Vulnerable Populations, Institute for Coastal Studies, Federal University of Pará, Bragança 68600-000, PA, Brazil
Luiz Fernando Almeida Machado
Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil
Background: Syphilis remains a significant global public health concern, and one of its consequences in pregnant women is the potential occurrence of congenital syphilis due to Treponema pallidum infection. This study determined the prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women undergoing prenatal care in a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city of Belém, Brazilian Amazon. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from clinical records of 611 pregnant women who underwent prenatal care at a public health unit in 2019 and 2020. The reagent result for VDRL was used as an indicator of syphilis. Odds Ratio and chi-square tests were used to evaluate the association of information from pregnant women with syphilis. Results: The overall prevalence of syphilis was 5.2 % (32/611; 95 % CI: 3.5–7.0 %). Age under 23 years was identified as a risk factor for syphilis. Conclusions: The prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women in the outskirts of Belém is high, especially among younger women. There is an urgent need to intensify innovative sexual and reproductive health education initiatives and emphasize the importance of consistent practice of preventive measures against syphilis and other STIs in the Amazon region, especially in the young population.
