Epidemiological characterization of congenital syphilis in a health region of the northern zone in the state of Ceará, Brazil

ABSTRACT

The study sought to investigate the epidemiological profile of congenital syphilis in a health region in the State of Ceará, in the period from 2015 to 2019. This is a descriptive epidemiological study, with a quantitative approach, with secondary data collected through the Health System. Information on Notifiable Diseases and Live Birth Information System. There were a total of 248 cases65cases in 2015, 50 in 2016, 45 in 2017, 51 in 2018 and 37 in 2019. The incidence of congenital syphilis was 8.1(2015), 6.1(2016), 5.1 (2017), 5.3(2018) and 3.9(2019). In 62.9% of cases from all the years, women were between 20 and 34 years old and in 45.5% of cases they had less than eight years of educational instruction. 57.2% never had a miscarriage, 63.3% had vaginal deliveries and 59.2% had full-term deliveries. Most women received prenatal care (95.9%). In 49.5% of cases, the diagnosis of maternal syphilis occurred during prenatal care. Only 67 (27%) of the pregnant women were treated properly and only 52 (29%) had their partners treated. The study shows aflaw in prenatal care with low effectiveness of the prevention actions, determining factors in the control of congenital syphilis.