Perfil epidemiológico e assistencial das gestantes notificadas por sífilis em uma maternidade de referência nacional no município do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil

Abstract

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a spirochete called Treponema pallidum that can be transmitted vertically. This bacterium evolves slowly in three stages and is characterized by skin and mucosal lesions. The quality of care during pregnancy is an important determinant of the reduction of vertical transmission. Objective: to describe the epidemiological profile, as well as the characteristics of prenatal care and/or delivery of syphilis cases in pregnant women at a national reference maternity hospital in the city of Rio de Janeiro from January 2018 to December 2019. Methodology: this is a cross-sectional study based on reported cases of pregnant women diagnosed with syphilis, who received treatment at a national reference maternity hospital in the city of Rio de Janeiro from January 2018 to December 2019. Results: 125 cases of syphilis were identified in pregnant women followed up at the prenatal clinic and/or delivery rooms in the years of 2018 and 2019. The mean age of pregnant women with syphilis was 24.1 (± 6.4) years, ranging from 13 to 44 years, most were young adults aged 20 to 29 years (56.8%), black (72.2%) and with complete/incomplete high school (43.2%). The majority (80.8%) of pregnant women with syphilis received the appropriate treatment regimen according to the clinical stage of the disease and only 45.6% of the partners were treated concomitantly with the pregnant woman. Final considerations: The results of this study showed that professional qualification and encouragement of continuing education are necessary to promote improvements in the care of pregnant women with syphilis and to avoid vertical transmission and congenital syphilis.