Back to Search
Start Over
Effect of a syphilis control programme on pregnancy outcome in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Source :
- Sexually Transmitted Infections; Apr2000, p117-121, 5p
- Publication Year :
- 2000
-
Abstract
- <bold>Objectives: </bold>To assess the impact of a syphilis control programme of pregnant women on pregnancy outcome in Kenya.<bold>Method: </bold>Women who came to deliver to Pumwani Maternity Hospital (PMH) between April 1997 and March 1998 were tested for syphilis. Reactive rapid plasma reagin (RPR) tests were titrated and confirmed with treponema haemagglutination test (TPHA). Equal numbers of RPR and TPHA negative women were enrolled. Antenatal syphilis screening and treatment history were examined from the antenatal cards.<bold>Results: </bold>Of 22,466 women giving birth, 12,414 (55%) were tested for syphilis. Out of these, 377 (3%) were RPR reactive of whom 296 were confirmed by TPHA. Syphilis sero-reactive women had a more risky sexual behaviour and coexistent HIV antibody positivity; 26% were HIV seropositive compared with 11% among syphilis negative mothers. The incidence of adverse obstetric outcome defined as low birth weight and stillbirth, was 9.5%. Syphilis seropositive women had a higher risk for adverse obstetric outcome (OR 4.1, 95% CI 2.4-7.2). Antenatal treatment of RPR reactive women significantly improved pregnancy outcome but the risk of adverse outcome remained 2.5-fold higher than the risk observed in uninfected mothers.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>These data confirm the adverse effect of syphilis on pregnancy outcome. This study also shows the efficacy of antenatal testing and prompt treatment of RPR reactive mothers on pregnancy outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- PREVENTION of communicable diseases
PREVENTION of pregnancy complications
SYPHILIS prevention
SYPHILIS epidemiology
COMMUNICABLE disease epidemiology
COMPARATIVE studies
RESEARCH methodology
EVALUATION of medical care
MEDICAL cooperation
MEDICAL screening
PREGNANCY
PREGNANCY complications
PRENATAL diagnosis
RESEARCH
EVALUATION research
IMPACT of Event Scale
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13684973
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 136431254
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1136/sti.76.2.117