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OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and investigate the factors associated with syphilis in parturient women in Brazil.

METHOD: This nationwide cross-sectional population-based study, with regional representativeness, was carried out with parturient women aged 15 to 49 years delivering babies in public healthcare system/partner maternity facilities between January 2010 and December 2011. Syphilis screening was based on a rapid treponemal test. Diagnostic confirmation was based on the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test and additional treponemal tests. A structured questionnaire was used for collection of clinical and sociodemographic variables. Information regarding pre-natal consultations was obtained from the prenatal card and medical records. The association between the variables of interest and syphilis was investigated using odds ratios and logistic regression.

RESULTS: Information was obtained from 36 713 women. The overall prevalence of syphilis for the country was 0.89%; the prevalence in the North, Northeast, Southeast, South, and Mid-West regions was 1.05%, 1.14%, 0.73%, 0.48%, and 1.20% respectively. Seropositive results were associated with absence of prenatal consultations, fewer prenatal consultations, and late start of prenatal consultations. Of the women diagnosed during prenatal consultations, 53.1% were still infected at delivery. Increased risk of syphilis was observed in women of yellow, black, and brown race/skin color as well as in those with fewer years of schooling than in women of white race/skin color and more years of schooling.

CONCLUSIONS: A reduction in the prevalence of syphilis in Brazil was recorded. However, this disease is still associated with social and regional inequality.