Epidemiological Profile of Gestational Syphilis in the 20th Health Region From 2019 to 2023

Abstract

Introduction: Syphilis is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum and can be transmitted through sexual contact or from mother to child. The infection occurs in two forms: acquired, through sexual contact, and congenital, when the infected mother transmits the bacterium to the fetus. Syphilis progresses through three stages: primary (with a hard chancre lesion), secondary (skin rashes), and tertiary (serious complications). Vertical transmission is high in the early stages and can result in severe complications for the fetus. The effective treatment for gestational syphilis is benzylpenicillin, which should be initiated as early as possible during pregnancy. Proper diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent congenital syphilis, which can have early or late clinical manifestations. Nurses play a crucial role in the screening, diagnosis, and follow-up of pregnant women. Analyzing the epidemiological profile of pregnant women with syphilis is important for planning actions to reduce vertical transmission and address inequalities in access to maternal and child healthcare. Objective: To analyze the epidemiological profile of gestational syphilis in the 20th Health Region during the period from 2019 to 2023. Methods: This is a descriptive, exploratory, and retrospective study, with a quantitative and indirect approach. Data were collected from confirmed cases of gestational syphilis through the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN), covering the period from 2019 to 2023 in the 20th Health Region of Paraná. Results: A total of 649 cases of gestational syphilis were reported, with a predominance among women aged 20 to 39 years. Among the pregnant women, 49.61% (322) were white, 32.51% (211) had completed high school, and 47.61% (309) were residents of Toledo. The “ignored/blank” classification was observed in 44.53% (289) of cases, indicating deficiencies in notification reporting. Treponemal tests were positive in 96.61% (627) of cases, while 74.26% (482) of the pregnant women had reactive results in non-treponemal tests, indicating active infection and the need for effective control. Conclusion: Gestational syphilis predominantly affected pregnant women aged 20 to 39 years, white, with a high school education, and residing in the municipality of Toledo, Paraná. The high rate of underreporting and failures in clinical classification highlight the need to improve epidemiological surveillance and the training of healthcare professionals.