Is routine antenatal screening for syphilis in Nigeria still justified clinically and economically?
Saudi Medical Journal. 2009; 30 (10): 1311-1315
in English
| IMEMR
| ID: emr-99850
ABSTRACT
To determine the seroprevalence and cost effectiveness of antenatal syphilis screening at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital [UMTH], Maiduguri, Nigeria. A retrospective chart analysis of venereal disease research laboratory [VDRL] results among pregnant women at the UMTH, Maiduguri, Nigeria, during a 10-year period [from 1st January 1999 to 31st December 2008] was undertaken. A total of 18,712 women registered for antenatal care during the study period. Of these, 18,101 had serological screening for syphilis. Only 12 of the 18,101 screened were seropositive by VDRL, 9 [75%] were confirmed by Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay [TPHA], giving a seroprevalence rate of 0.05%. Three [25%] were biological false-positive. The peak age-specific incidence of 0.02% was in the 20-24 year-age group. There was zero prevalence in the age groups 15-19 and >40 years. There was no case of congenital syphilis seen. The cost for VDRL testing per patient in UMTH is US$2. The total amount of money spent on VDRL tests over the study period was US$37,424. The seroprevalence rate of syphilis is extremely low in this study. This calls for a review of the policy of routine antenatal serology screening for syphilis in Maiduguri, Nigeria
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Index:
IMEMR (Eastern Mediterranean)
Main subject:
Prenatal Diagnosis
/
Treponema pallidum
/
Seroepidemiologic Studies
/
Mass Screening
/
Retrospective Studies
/
Cost-Benefit Analysis
/
Hospitals, Teaching
Type of study:
Health economic evaluation
/
Screening study
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Saudi Med. J.
Year:
2009
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