Syphilis in pregnant adolescents in Pernambuco

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the social, demographic, and epidemiological characteristics of syphilis in pregnant adolescents living in Pernambuco. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with secondary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) of the State of Pernambuco. The population consisted of pregnant women aged 10 to 19 years, reported as cases of gestational syphilis between 2007 and 2016. The database was analyzed using the Epi-info 7.0 statistical package. The project was approved by the research ethics committee of the University of Pernambuco. RESULTS: During the period from 2007 to 2016, 1,494 cases of syphilis in pregnant adolescents were reported. There was an increase in notifications, from approximately 71 cases (CI = 2.1) in 2007 to 289 (CI = 10.7) in 2016. The cases occurred predominantly in adolescents aged between 15 and 19 years (95%), in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy (41.7%), brown race/color (70%) and with incomplete 5th to 8th grade of elementary school (EF) (42.2%). Most cases were classified as primary syphilis (68.7%), with the prescribed treatment being benzathine penicillin G 7,200,000 IU (38.3%). CONCLUSION: There was a progressive increase in the notification and incidence rate of syphilis cases in pregnant adolescents living in Pernambuco.