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Background Syphilis rates in the United States have increased. Few studies have examined syphilis incidence and prevalence prospectively among young sexual and gender minorities (YSGM). Methods This study of YSGM assigned male at birth comes from a Chicago-based prospective cohort at 2 visits 6 months apart (N = 882). Syphilis cases were identified through serologic test results and self-reported history. Results In this sample, 25.1% had a lifetime prevalence, and 3.3% were incident cases with a crude incidence rate of 6.76 per 100 person-years. Conclusions Lifetime syphilis and incidence are high in this sample of YSGM relative to general population samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundMother-to-child transmission of syphilis remains high especially in the WHO AFRO region with a prevalence of 1.62%, resulting in a congenital syphilis rate of 1,119 per 100,000 live births. Elimination efforts can be supported by an understanding of the spatial and temporal changes in disease over time, which can identify priority areas for targeted interventions aimed at reducing transmission.MethodsWe collated routine surveillance data from health facilities and covariate data from demographic and health surveys conducted in Malawi between 2014 and 2022. We fitted a Bayesian hierarchical mixed model with spatial and temporally structured random effects to model the district-level monthly counts of maternal syphilis notifications as a function of individual- and district-level predictors. We then generated district-level spatiotemporally explicit risk profiles to estimate the effect of individual- and district-level covariates on maternal syphilis notifications and to identify hotspot areas.ResultsOverall, the national prevalence of maternal syphilis increased from 0.28% (95% CI: 0.27–0.29%) in 2014 to peaking in 2021 at 1.92% (95% CI: 1.89–1.96%). Between 2020 and 2022, there was a decline in prevalence, with the most significant decline seen in Zomba District (1.40, 95% CI: 1.12–1.66%). In regression models, a one percentage point increase in district-level antenatal HIV prevalence was associated with increased maternal syphilis (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.15, 95% credible interval [CrI]: 1.10–1.21). There was also an increased prevalence of maternal syphilis associated with an increased district-level mean number of sex partners (PR: 1.05, 95% CrI: 0.80–1.37). The number of districts with a high prevalence of maternal syphilis also increased between 2014 and 2022, especially in the southern region, where most had a high probability (approaching 100%) of having high maternal syphilis (defined as relative risk >1 compared to the standard population of women aged 15–49 years) in 2022.ConclusionMaternal syphilis prevalence in Malawi shows an increasing upward trend, with an estimated six times relative increase between 2014 and 2022 (0.28% to 1.73%) and strong associations with higher district-level HIV prevalence. Controlling syphilis depends on reaching vulnerable populations at the sub-national level, which may be disproportionately affected. Our findings support the move to integrate the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of syphilis programs with existing prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV programs.

Amare Tadesse,1 Abdi Geda2 1Medicine Sans Frontiers (MSF), Gambella, Gambella Region, Ethiopia; 2Public Health Department, College of Health Science, Mettu University, Mettu, Oromia Region, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Abdi Geda, Public Health Department, College of Health Science, Mettu University, PO Box: 318, Mettu, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, Email abdiabagada@gmail.comBackground: Almost 1 million pregnant women were estimated to be infected with syphilis in 2016, resulting in over 350,000 adverse birth outcomes including 200,000 stillbirths and new-born deaths (7– 9). More than half of infected pregnant women transmit the infection to their babies, resulting in adverse pregnancy outcomes, including foetal death, stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, neonatal death, and congenital infection in infants.Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the syphilis status and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Kule refugee camp health facilities, Gambella regional state, Southwest Ethiopia, in 2021.Methods: Facility based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 374 pregnant women in a Kule refugee camp health facility from March 1, to July 15, 2021. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. After the interview, 2mL of venous blood sample was drawn from each of the study participants. Then, RPR test was done. When RPR tests were positive, the study subjects were considered as syphilis positive.Results: The overall syphilis positivity rate was 11.8%. Education status (unable to read and write) [AOR 6.6; 95% CI (1.5, 29.3)], presence of other STDs [AOR 3.6; 95% CI (1.4, 8.8)], having polygamy husband [AOR 3.3; 95% CI (1.6, 6.9)] and being HIV positive [AOR=5.5; 95% CI (1.1, 27.5), P=0.04] were among factors associated with syphilis infection.Conclusions and recommendation: This study showed that there is very high syphilis prevalence and it is still a very important public health problem the study area. Therefore, syphilis screening and treatment of pregnant women towards the first ANC points and health education towards the mode of transmission and prevention of syphilis have to be strengthened.Keywords: syphilis prevalence, Kule refugee camp, Gambella, Ethiopia, pregnant women, ANC

Background: Syphilis rates in the United States have increased. Few studies have examined syphilis incidence and prevalence prospectively among young sexual and gender minorities (YSGM)., Methods: This study of YSGM assigned male at birth comes from a Chicago-based prospective cohort at 2 visits 6 months apart (N = 882). Syphilis cases were identified through serologic test results and self-reported history., Results: In this sample, 25.1% had a lifetime prevalence, and 3.3% were incident cases with a crude incidence rate of 6.76 per 100 person-years., Conclusions: Lifetime syphilis and incidence are high in this sample of YSGM relative to general population samples., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Mother-to-child transmission of syphilis remains high especially in the WHO AFRO region with a prevalence of 1.62%, resulting in a congenital syphilis rate of 1,119 per 100,000 live births. Elimination efforts can be supported by an understanding of the spatial and temporal changes in disease over time, which can identify priority areas for targeted interventions aimed at reducing transmission., Methods: We collated routine surveillance data from health facilities and covariate data from demographic and health surveys conducted in Malawi between 2014 and 2022. We fitted a Bayesian hierarchical mixed model with spatial and temporally structured random effects to model the district-level monthly counts of maternal syphilis notifications as a function of individual- and district-level predictors. We then generated district-level spatiotemporally explicit risk profiles to estimate the effect of individual- and district-level covariates on maternal syphilis notifications and to identify hotspot areas., Results: Overall, the national prevalence of maternal syphilis increased from 0.28% (95% CI: 0.27-0.29%) in 2014 to peaking in 2021 at 1.92% (95% CI: 1.89-1.96%). Between 2020 and 2022, there was a decline in prevalence, with the most significant decline seen in Zomba District (1.40, 95% CI: 1.12-1.66%). In regression models, a one percentage point increase in district-level antenatal HIV prevalence was associated with increased maternal syphilis (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.15, 95% credible interval [CrI]: 1.10-1.21). There was also an increased prevalence of maternal syphilis associated with an increased district-level mean number of sex partners (PR: 1.05, 95% CrI: 0.80-1.37). The number of districts with a high prevalence of maternal syphilis also increased between 2014 and 2022, especially in the southern region, where most had a high probability (approaching 100%) of having high maternal syphilis (defined as relative risk >1 compared to the standard population of women aged 15-49 years) in 2022., Conclusion: Maternal syphilis prevalence in Malawi shows an increasing upward trend, with an estimated six times relative increase between 2014 and 2022 (0.28% to 1.73%) and strong associations with higher district-level HIV prevalence. Controlling syphilis depends on reaching vulnerable populations at the sub-national level, which may be disproportionately affected. Our findings support the move to integrate the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of syphilis programs with existing prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV programs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Chirombo, Majamanda, Gunsaru, Yosefe, Ozituosauka, Mchoma, Morroni, Chipeta, MacPherson and Freyne.)

Public fears of widespread venereal disease led in 1913 to the appointment of The Royal Commission on Venereal Diseases (RCVD). In 1916 its Final Report offered only a single cautious and somewhat imprecise summary statement about the likely prevalence of venereal diseases in England and Wales. Although the significance of contemporary attitudes to venereal disease has attracted a good deal of historiographic attention, no historian or demographer has since investigated this aspect of the Royal Commission's work. This article critically re-examines the most important quantitative evidence presented to the Royal Commission relating to the years immediately prior to the First World War. It utilises this evidence to produce new estimates of the probable prevalence of syphilis among adult males, both nationally and among certain geographical divisions and social groups in the national population; and also to offer a comment on the likely prevalence of gonorrhoea. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]