Congenital syphilis in Ceará: epidemiological analysis of one decade

Abstract

This study evaluates the incidence of congenital syphilis in the Brazilian state of Ceará from 2000 to 2009, describes the epidemiologic profile of pregnant women whose newborns had congenital syphilis and verifies the receipt of prenatal care and treatment of their partners. It is a retrospective study that was conducted in July 2010 using a Center for Information and Analysis in Health database that contains information on National Notifiable Diseases. There were 2,930 reported cases of congenital syphilis, demonstrating an annual ascending historical series. The majority of the pregnant women were 20 to 34 years of age (n=1,836, 62.7%), illiterate or with little education (n=1623, 55.4%) and had received prenatal care (n=2077, 70.9%). The inadequate treatment of women and the lack of treatment for their partners is a reality in Ceará. The incidence of congenital syphilis is a quality indicator of prenatal care. Therefore, its increase in the last ten years highlights the necessity of syphilis control.