Electrical engineering

Physics

Sociology

Pediatrics

Prenatal care

Population

Economic growth

Incidence (geometry)

Biology

Infant mortality

Optics

Demography

Engineering

Obstetrics

Socioeconomic status

Health care

Economics

Immunology

Syphilis

Miscarriage

Abortion

Pregnancy

Congenital syphilis

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Genetics

Medicine

Transmission (telecommunications)

Environmental health

Emerging infectious diseases

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that has direct adverse effects on maternal and infant health through vertical Treponema pallidum transmission during early pregnancy. We evaluated congenital syphilis as a predictor of the quality of basic maternal and child healthcare in Brazil during 2010-2015. We investigated case rates and correlations with epidemiologic and socioeconomic indicators. We observed rising congenital syphilis incidence rates and increasing syphilis-associated perinatal and infant mortality rates in all regions. Case rates were highest in the Northeast, Southeast, and South, and congenital syphilis infant mortality rates were highest in the Northeast and Southeast. We observed correlations between congenital syphilis rates and infant death, spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), and stillbirth rates. We also noted correlations between rates of stillbirth caused by syphilis and inadequate prenatal care. Our study suggests gaps in basic healthcare for pregnant women and indicates the urgent need for measures to increase early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Congenital Syphilis as a Measure of Maternal and Child Healthcare, Brazil