Abstract
BackgroundPartner infection is a significant factor in preventing mother-to-child syphilis transmission. We compared pregnancy outcomes between syphilis discordant and syphilis concordant couples.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study among 3076 syphilis-positive women who received syphilis screening together with their partners during pregnancy. Multivariate analysis was used to explore risks for abnormal outcomes in objects correcting for the major covariate factors. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated to compare pregnancy outcomes between syphilis concordant and syphilis discordant couples.ResultsOverall, 657 of the 3076 women were diagnosed with gestational syphilis and had a syphilis-positive partner, giving a partner concordance prevalence of 21.36%. Women in concordant couples were more likely to have higher parity, more children, late antenatal care and syphilis screening, a lower proportion of latent syphilis, and elevated serologic titers than women in discordant couples (P < 0.01 for all). Totally, 10.08% of women had adverse pregnancy outcomes. Multivariate analysis showed partners’ syphilis infection (ORadj = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.10–1.89), untreated pregnancy syphilis (ORadj = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.15–2.43), and higher maternal serum titers (> 1:8) (ORadj = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.17–2.00) increased the risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Concordance was associated with increased risk for stillbirth (ORadj = 2.86, 95%CI:1.36–6.00), preterm birth (PTB) (ORadj = 1.38,95%CI:1.02–1.87) and low birth weight (LBW) (ORadj = 1.55, 95%CI:1.13–2.11) compared with discordance. Even among treated women, concordance was associated with increased risk for stillbirth (ORadj = 3.26, 95%CI:1.45–7.31) and LBW (ORadj = 1.52, 95%CI:1.08–2.14). Among women with one treatment course, the risks for PTB(ORadj = 1.81, 95%CI:1.14–2.88) and LBW(ORadj = 2.08, 95%CI:1.28–3.38)were also higher among concordant couples than discordant couples. Nevertheless, there were no significant differences between concordant and discordant couples in risks of stillbirth (ORadj = 2.64, 95% CI: 0.98–7.05),PTB (ORadj = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.76–1.74), and LBW(ORadj = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.78–2.02) among women with two treatment courses.ConclusionMale partner coinfection increased the risks for stillbirth, PTB and LBW, particularly when gestational syphilis treatment was suboptimal. However, this risk could be reduced by adequate treatment.
Highlights
Partner infection is a significant factor in preventing mother-to-child syphilis transmission
Maternal characteristics During the study period, 6502 pregnant women were diagnosed with syphilis infection and 3076(47.31%) partners of those women underwent serological testing
No remarkable differences in the proportion of treatment course, length of time between treatment and delivery, time of first treatment, or drugs administered were observed between the two groups. (Table 2)
Summary
Partner infection is a significant factor in preventing mother-to-child syphilis transmission. There has been an upward trend in female syphilis in most areas in the world, including increased maternal syphilis [5,6,7]. As syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection, factors that can increase re-infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes among women include having more than one sexual partner, a sexual partner’s concurrent infection, and lack of partner treatment during pregnancy [5, 8,9,10]. Syphilis infection status is unknown for nearly 70% of the partners of pregnant women with syphilis at the national level in China [15]. Data on partners’ infection and the associations with pregnancy outcomes are limited. We explored differences in maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes between pregnant woman with syphilis with and without an infected partner
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
