Inadequate syphilis screening among women with prenatal care in a community with a high syphilis incidence

Sex Transm Dis. 2006 Nov;33(11):670-4. doi: 10.1097/01.olq.0000216032.52731.ea.

Abstract

Objectives and goal: This study was designed to evaluate the extent to which pregnant women in a community with a high syphilis incidence were screened for syphilis according to standard recommendations of twice during prenatal care and at labor and delivery.

Study design: Labor and delivery records from 4 hospitals in Miami-Dade County, Florida, were abstracted to obtain maternal and prenatal care characteristics and syphilis screening practices.

Results: Of the 1991 women, records indicated that 1655 (83%) were screened at least once during prenatal care, 220 (11%) were screened twice during prenatal care before delivery, and 184 (9%) were screened twice during prenatal care and at delivery. Attending a private clinic, having more than adequate prenatal care and having private insurance were associated with not being screened at least twice before delivery.

Conclusions: Few women were screened according to standard recommendations, and provider or institutional-related factors affected adequacy of screening.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Community Health Services / standards
  • Delivery, Obstetric
  • Female
  • Florida / epidemiology
  • Guideline Adherence
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Mass Screening / standards*
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data
  • Maternal Health Services / standards
  • Medical Records
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / prevention & control
  • Prenatal Care / standards*
  • Prenatal Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Syphilis / diagnosis
  • Syphilis / epidemiology*
  • Syphilis / prevention & control
  • Syphilis Serodiagnosis / statistics & numerical data*