Trend and challenge in mother-to-child transmission of syphilis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the epidemiological trends in the incidence rates of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis, syphilis in women of reproductive age and pregnant women in the antenatal care program over the period 1991-2014, in order to find a basis for preventive measures.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Case series data of confirmed syphilis was used to evaluate the incidence rates over the period 1991-2014 in Slovakia.

RESULTS: During the monitored period, 101 cases of mother-to-child transmitted syphilis were detected. The rate increased in 1996, corresponding to 33.3 per 100,000 live births and discovered discordance in antenatal care program. The rates of syphilis in women of reproductive age showed increased rate in 2001, corresponding to 10.44 per 100 000 population. Pregnant women reported the highest rate in 2000, corresponding to 3.24 per 1,000 pregnant women population. Syphilis notification rates in all three groups showed increased trend in the first decade following with decreased trend in the second decade. The high decrease in rate notification among pregnant women in 2011 (0.37) decreasing up to 0.11 in 2014 was followed with decreasing of mother-to-child transmission.

CONCLUSION: Mother-to-child transmission of syphilis poses a public health problem and requires comprehensive surveillance in all countries. These data result in the requirement of effective improvement of antenatal care program in pregnant women. The last years 2011-2014 showed improvement in antenatal care program corresponding with decrease rate of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis.