CONGENITAL SYPHILIS AT RIO DE JANEIRO – CONTRIBUTION FOR ANTENATAL CARE IN PRIMARY HEALTH SERVICES

Introduction: Congenital syphilis is highly incident in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Adequate antenatal care, including rapid testing, provides early diagnosis, optimal treatment and follow-up for patient and partner, lowering case frequency. Objective: to analyze syphilis data, searching for information that may contribute to congenital syphilis control. Methods: sectional study focusing on syphilis in pregnancy and congenital syphilis notifications related to regional resident cases occurred in 2015. Results: There were 366 syphilis in pregnancy notifications in 2015. Adequate treatment was reported on 87.7% (321) cases. Adequate partner treatment was reported on 42.8 % (157) cases. There were 238 congenital syphilis notifications in 2015. Diagnosis was achieved during antenatal care in 84,4% (201) cases. Notifications report inadequate treatment on 63.4 % (151) cases, a higher rate than found in pregnancy syphilis notifications. Partner treatment was reported on 52.2 % (126). Syphilis in pregnancy incidence was 27/1000 newborns and congenital syphilis incidence was 20/1000. Discussion: study findings show disparity in syphilis in pregnancy treatment between antenatal care services, where most cases are notified, and birth centers, where congenital cases are assessed. As in birth centers data from antenatal care, if present, is reviewed based on patient forms and oral information, this may lead to excessive congenital syphilis notifications. The study aim to analyze each notification case in a detailed fashion, in order to understand the details and support congenital syphilis control and surveillance.