Health Policy and Planning; 16(1): 29-34
© Oxford University Press
2001
Antenatal syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa: missed opportunities for mortality reduction
1 Department of Health Services and
2 Department of Environmental Health, University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
Purpose: Between 4–15% of pregnant women are believed to be infected with syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa. Active infection with syphilis in pregnant women results in foetal or infant death or disability for 50–80% of affected pregnancies, and is a major cause of adult morbidity as well. Antenatal syphilis screening is cheap and effective; however, it is often poorly implemented in countries with high syphilis risk. This study sought to estimate the missed opportunities for antenatal syphilis screening in sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods: Survey data were collected from 22 ministries of health in sub-Saharan Africa, complemented by data from published sources and key informants. Informants described their country’s policies and experience with antenatal syphilis screening and estimated their national syphilis screening rates.
Findings: Seventy-three percent of women are reported by WHO to receive antenatal care in the study countries. Of women in antenatal care, 38% were estimated by survey respondents to be screened for syphilis. Costs and the organization of services were the principal reported obstacles to screening. With syphilis seroprevalence estimated at 8.3%, approximately 1 640 000 pregnant women with syphilis are undetected annually, including 1 030 000 women who attend antenatal care.
Discussion: Syphilis testing and treatment is a cost-effective intervention that deserves much greater attention, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and other countries where syphilis infection is high.
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