title: Seroprevalence and risk factors of syphilis infection in pregnant women delivering at Harare Maternity Hospital, Zimbabwe.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate risk factors and outcomes of syphilis during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital based, cross sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Harare Maternity Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 2 969 pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Syphilis seroprevalence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 2 969 women who provided blood samples, 4.8% were RPR positive. Approximately 2.2% of study subjects were RPR positive and TPHA negative. Notably, 2.5% of the population was RPR and TPHA positive at the time of giving birth. Older women had a higher risk of having positive syphilis status (p = 0.057). Increases in parity and gravidity were significantly associated with increased risk of syphilis infection. Prior stillbirths were associated with an increased risk of syphilis infection (odds ratio [OR], 3.4; 95% CI, 1.61 to 7.37; p = 0.001). Syphilis positive mothers were significantly more likely to give birth to syphilis positive newborns (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that there should be more effective antenatal screening and treatment of syphilis in Harare. Syphilis affects many sub-Saharan countries where effective educational outreach, screening, and treatment should take place to prevent the transmission of this venereal disease, especially among reproductive age and pregnant women.
authors: Department of Epidemiology ,University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Seattle, USA.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Pham
authors: G B
authors: GB
authors: Woelk
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Ning
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Madzime
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Mudzamiri
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Mahomed
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology