Spatial analysis of syphilis in pregnancy and congenital syphilis in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, 2001-2018

Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2020;29(1):e2018193. doi: 10.5123/s1679-49742020000100018. Epub 2020 Apr 6.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the spatial distribution of syphilis cases in pregnancy and congenital syphilis cases, from 2011 to 2018.

Methods: this was an ecological study applying spatial analysis of syphilis cases in pregnancy and congenital syphilis reported on the Notifiable Diseases Information System; TerraView 4.2.0 software was used.

Results: seventy-eight municipalities were analyzed, and evidence of a significant cluster was found for syphilis in pregnant women (Moran index=0.38; p=0.01) and for congenital syphilis (Moran index=0.31; p=0.01) in the greater Vitória region and north coast municipalities; along the north and metropolitan coastal regions some 30 municipalities were identified as having higher occurrence of the outcomes, as well as some 14 municipalities with a high proportion of congenital syphilis and a low proportion of syphilis in pregnancy.

Conclusion: the study identified places where interventions and prenatal care professional training need to be channeled, with the aim of controlling syphilis in pregnancy and congenital syphilis.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / statistics & numerical data
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / microbiology
  • Prenatal Care / methods
  • Spatial Analysis
  • Syphilis / epidemiology*
  • Syphilis, Congenital / epidemiology*
  • Syphilis, Congenital / prevention & control