Sero-Prevalence of Syphilis among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Dogon Agogo Primary Health Care Centre Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Syphilis remains a public health problem in many parts of the world, including Nigeria, where is common during pregnancy.
 Design and Duration: This is a cross-sectional study involving pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Dogon Agogo Primary Health Centre, Jos North, from March 2017 to November, 2021.
 Aim: The aim of this study is to seroprevalence of Syphilis among pregnant women attending Primary health care centre in Jos North,
 Materials and Methods: A total of one thousand, two hundred and nineteen blood samples were screened from 2017 to 2021, using rapid diagnostic tests Patient’s demographic variables, clinical profiles and information considered to be risk factors were also collected using structured questionnaires, Patient’s demographic details, clinical profiles and information considered to be risk factors were also collected using structured questionnaires.
 Results: The results showed that only 33 (2.7%) were positive. This includes 14(42.4%) patients between the age of 20 – 34 years as the highest frequency, followed by 12(36.4%) in 35 – 49 years of age. Most of the syphilis-positive patients are married 21(63.6%) and had attended tertiary level of education 13(39.4%), but mostly unemployed/Housewives 11(33.3%). The clinical profile of the participants revealed that the majority 14(42.5%) of the women that attended the facility throughout this period are in their third pregnancy and above (Multigravida). They were screened during the first-time visit (72.7%) and first trimester (33.3%). The pregnancy outcome among the seropositive patients showed that many 14(42.4%) undergo normal delivery, but 10(30.3%) had miscarriages. Blood transfusion (81.8%), multiple sex partners (75.8%), unprotected sexual intercourse with a person of unknown status (57.6%), and previous exposure to sexually transmitted infections (84.8%) were the most prevalent risks factors observed. The overall prevalence of syphilis across the five years of sampling was 2.71% (33 of 1219), where the highest number of cases 57.6% was recorded in the year 2020, followed by 18.2% in 2018, with 3.0% in 2019 as the least.
 Conclusion: This study found that the prevalence of syphilis over the five-year period among pregnant women in this area is low. However, the study advocates the improvement of screening programs during pregnancy as part of routine antenatal care.