Burden of Maternal Syphilis, Congenital Syphilis and the Outcomes of Infants Born from Syphilis infected Pregnant Women at Yasothon Hospital

Abstract

Purpose: To study the prevalence of maternal syphilis, the rate of congenital syphilis and the clinical outcomes
of infant born from syphilis-infected pregnant women at Yasothon Hospital including an adequacy of treatment
received in syphilis-infected pregnant women at Yasothon Hospital.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using medical records of syphilis-infected
mothers and infants born from syphilis-infected mothers delivered at Yasothon Hospital from 1 January 2017 to
31 December 2021.
Results: Prevalence of syphilis in pregnant women was 0.59%. 55.7% of infected pregnant women were 20-30
years old. Of total, 69.3% of syphilis-infected pregnant women received adequate penicillin regimen treatment in
syphilis-infected pregnant women. 9 cases were diagnosed with proven congenital syphilis. The prevalence of
congenital syphilis was 0.6 per 1,000 live births. The average infant’s weight in adequate maternal treatment group
was 3,041 grams compared with 2,919 grams for untreated and inadequate treated syphilis-infected mothers with
statistically non-significant (P-value <0.05). But the average infant’s gestational age in adequate maternal treatment group was 38.3 week compared with 36.1 week for untreated and inadequate treated syphilis-infected mothers
with statistically significant (P-value <0.05).
Conclusion: The prevalence of syphilis-infected mothers and congenital syphilis was likely to increase and mostly
attended hospital with unknown history of infected husband or sexual partner. It is therefore necessary to develop
a quality antenatal care, adequate screening, education about sexually transmitted disease, proper treatment of
syphilis in pregnant women including husband or sexual partner and the possible outcome of individual infected
infant.