A team of international researchers found that syphilis continues to affect numerous pregnant women across the globe, resulting in neonatal deaths or severe health conditions, reports Medical Xpress.
Researchers analyzed the data of infected pregnant women from 97 countries and also gathered information of women who attended antenatal clinics through the clinic database from 147 countries. Lori Newman from the World Health Organization, who led the research, estimated nearly 1.4 million pregnant women were diagnosed with syphilis in 2008 and 80 percent of those who approached medical care services, reported Medical Xpress.
Researchers made a model to illustrate the infected pregnant women worldwide and also estimated the number of pregnant women tested and treated for syphilis which showed 30 percent for Africa and the Mediterranean region to 70 percent for Europe, the report said. Authors noted in 2008 pregnant women who sought medical care in early stage of syphilis helped in averting a quarter of several harmful results such as stillbirths, neonatal (baby) deaths, preterm or low birth-weight babies and babies with congenital infections.
"This analysis indicates that syphilis continues to be an important cause of adverse outcomes of pregnancy, including substantial numbers of perinatal deaths and disabilities," authors said. "Countries also need to ensure that quality-assured syphilis testing is available in all antenatal clinic settings, now possible even in remote care settings with the introduction of rapid point-of-care diagnostics.
"In addition, efforts are needed to ensure universal access to early antenatal care, as well as improved quality of antenatal care so that all pregnant women receive an essential package of services that includes routine and early access to point-of-care testing and adequate treatment for syphilis if seropositive."
The findings are published in PLOS Medicine.
