A recent study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology has shed light on concerning treatment disparities among pregnant individuals diagnosed with syphilis, underscoring the critical need for enhanced coverage of this public health crisis and the importance of timely prenatal care to mitigate congenital syphilis transmission.
The research, conducted from 2018 to 2021, examined the treatment status and prenatal care among pregnant patients diagnosed with syphilis. The findings revealed that nearly one in three pregnant patients with syphilis did not receive adequate treatment or any treatment at all for their infection. Furthermore, individuals without timely prenatal care were more than twice as likely to receive inadequate or no treatment.
Factors such as substance use and homelessness were also identified as contributing to inadequate treatment, with patients reporting substance use being twice as likely not to receive adequate treatment, and those with a history of homelessness being nearly twice as likely not to receive adequate treatment.
“These findings underscore gaps in syphilis screening and treatment for pregnant individuals, especially those experiencing substance use and homelessness, and highlight the need for systems-based interventions,” concluded the authors of the study.
The study, which analyzed data from six states reporting to the CDC’s Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Pregnant People and Infants Network (SET-NET), compared demographic, clinical factors, syphilis stage, and treatment status during pregnancy. Among the 1,476 individuals included in the study, just over half were adequately treated, leaving four out of ten patients who were inadequately treated or not treated at all.
While timely prenatal care was associated with higher rates of treatment, nearly a third of patients who received timely prenatal care still received inadequate treatment or no treatment for their syphilis infection.
The authors speculated on possible reasons for inadequate treatment, including clinicians’ awareness about the need for immediate treatment after diagnosis and logistical challenges in coordinating treatment. They also highlighted clinical factors such as testing and treatment recommendations that may contribute to treatment gaps.
The study’s findings underscore the urgent need for improved screening, treatment, and education efforts to address the escalating syphilis crisis, particularly among pregnant populations. Journalists are encouraged to explore how hospitals, health centers, and community resources are addressing these treatment gaps to ensure better outcomes for pregnant individuals and their infants.
