ABSTRACT

Objective:

To analyze the trend in the detection rate of Syphilis in Pregnant Women (SP) and in the incidence rate of Congenital Syphilis (CS) in the state of Ceará.

Methods:

This is an ecological study that used the technique of interrupted time series to analyze monthly data on cases of SP and CS obtained from the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System (DATASUS) from January 2015 to July 2021. The Kernel test and the Lincoln-Petersen estimate were used to analyze the statistical significance.

Results:

In 2015, a monthly detection rate of SP was estimated at 5.4 and a CS incidence rate of 8.2 per one thousand live births (LB). The implementation of the ordinance that changed the criteria for defining cases of SP and CS resulted in an increase of 4.9 (p<0.0001; 95%CI; 3.33; 6.61) in the detection rate of SP and a decrease of 0.1 on the incidence of CS (p<0.001; 95%CI -0.2; -0.1). The COVID-19 pandemic did not impact the monthly detection rate of SP (p=0.558; 95%CI 5.92; 3.22), nor its trend (p=0.7397; 95%CI 0.28; 0.3), but there was an increase of 0.19 in CS (p<0.001; 95%CI 0.1; -0.31).

Conclusion:

Between 2015 and June 2021, the trend in the detection rate of SP and in the incidence rate of CS was impacted by changes in the criteria for defining cases of these diseases proposed by the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords:
Pregnancy; Congenital syphilis; COVID-19; Epidemiology

INTRODUCTION

The control of syphilis in pregnant women (SP) and congenital syphilis (CS) involves the quality of prenatal care, as well as the functioning and monitoring of health information systems, whose notification of cases and adequate completion of information enable the identification and planning of coping strategies. Since notification became mandatory for these diseases¹1. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instrução Normativa no 2, de 22 de novembro de 2005. Regulamenta as atividades da vigilância epidemiológica com relação à coleta, fluxo e a periodicidade de envio de dados da notificação compulsória de doenças por meio do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação – SINAN [Internet]. Brasília: Diário Oficial da União, de 22 de novembro de 2005. [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: http://portalsinan.saude.gov.br/images/documentos/Legislacoes/IN_2_2005.pdf
http://portalsinan.saude.gov.br/images/d... , the Brazilian Ministry of Health (Ministério da Saúde – MS) has been adopting and modifying the definitions of cases in order to maintain the same standard of notifications throughout the national territory and align them with international criteria for comparison with other countries²2. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Guia de vigilância epidemiológica [Internet]. 6a ed. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2005 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023] Disponível em: https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/Guia_Vig_Epid_novo2.pdf
https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicaco... .

In Brazil, as of 2017, the MS made important changes that may have had an impact on the detection rates of SP and incidence of CS. These changes occurred in relation to the notification and treatment of SP. Those who completed treatment up to 30 days before delivery were considered adequately treated; currently, the treatment is deemed adequate when starting up to 30 days prior to delivery. It was also suggested that SP should be reported during delivery or puerperium. Before, if the pregnant woman was not notified during prenatal care, she should be notified during delivery and puerperium as a case of acquired syphilis. Regarding the definition of CS case, the need to treat the sexual partner of the pregnant woman, who is infected with syphilis, ceased to be considered³3. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde Departamento de Vigilância, Prevenção e Controle das Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis, do HIV/Aids e das Hepatites Virais. Nota Informativa no 02-SEI/2017 – DIAHV/SVS/MS. Altera os critérios de definição de casos para notificação de sífilis adquirida, sífilis em gestantes e sífilis congênita [Internet]. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2017 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://portalsinan.saude.gov.br/images/documentos/Agravos/Sifilis-Ges/Nota_Informativa_Sifilis.pdf
https://portalsinan.saude.gov.br/images/... . These changes have made case definitions less sensitive, and may decrease the number of diagnosed children and possible underreporting.

In 2020 and 2021, the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic occurred, the largest in recent human history, an event that may have impacted the detection and incidence rates of SP and CS, respectively. COVID-19 has affected millions of people worldwide and killed 814,497 Brazilians in Brazil alone⁴4. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Doença pelo Coronavírus – COVID-19. Boletim Epidemiológico Especial 2022; 146 [Internet]. 2022 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/centrais-de-conteudo/publicacoes/boletins/epidemiologicos/covid-19/2022/boletim-epidemiologico-no-146-boletim-coe-coronavirus/view
https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/centrais-... . This pandemic has brought immeasurable consequences, including high costs for the health system with a drop in health care, especially in primary care. The state of Ceará ranked third in the highest number of reported cases in the country⁵5. Ceará. Secretaria da Saúde. Secretária Executiva de Vigilância e Regulação em Saúde. Doença pelo novo coronavírus (COVID-19) e vírus respiratórios [Internet]. Boletim Epidemiológico 2022; 4. 2022 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://www.saude.ce.gov.br/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/02/BOLETIM_COVID_N04_11.02.2022.pdf
https://www.saude.ce.gov.br/wp-content/u... .

The social isolation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic required urgent measures to reorganize healthcare services, especially primary care, which practically suspended elective care and began to prioritize people with respiratory syndromes. Conversely, people have also stopped seeking these services for fear of exposure to the virus. These situations caused failures in diagnosis and treatment in primary care, with the interruption of the usual patterns of health care globally⁶6. Saraceni V, Cruz OG, Cavalcante JR, Vieira FMSB, Cardoso BB, Cruz DM, et al. Excess mortality from all causes during the COVID-19 pandemic in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rev Bras Epidemiol 2023; 26: e230013. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-549720230013
https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-54972023001... .

Taking this into consideration, in this study we aimed to analyze the trend in the detection rate of SP and in the incidence rate of CS in the state of Ceará, Brazil, in the period from 2015 to 2021.

METHODS

This is an ecological study that used the Interrupted Time Series (ITS) analysis technique to analyze the temporal trend in the detection rate of SP and in the incidence rate of CS in the state of Ceará in the period from 2015 to 2021. The state of Ceará has 184 municipalities and is geographically divided into five health macroregions, it is the fourth largest federative unit in the Northeast region, with a territorial area of 148,894.477 km² and an estimated population of 8,791,688 inhabitants, representing 4.33% of the population of Brazil in 2022⁷7. Ceará. Secretaria da Saúde. Criada a 5a macrorregião de saúde Litoral Leste/Jaguaribe [Internet]. 2014 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://www.saude.ce.gov.br/2014/05/16/criada-a-5o-macrorregiao-de-saude-litoral-leste-jaguaribe/.
https://www.saude.ce.gov.br/2014/05/16/c... ,⁸8. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Censo demográfico: resultados preliminares [Internet]. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2022. [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://www.ibge.gov.br/estatisticas/sociais/populacao/22827-censo-demografico-2022.html?edicao=35938&t=resultados.
https://www.ibge.gov.br/estatisticas/soc... .

The detection rates of SP and incidence of CS were calculated from January 2015 to July 2021, whose data were obtained from the website of the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System (Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde – DATASUS). These rates were calculated by the ratio between the number of cases reported each month for every one thousand live births (LB) of the same year and month for the study period.

ITS studies are used to evaluate population-based interventions and analyze the effects of a given intervention, considering a trend expected in its absence (counterfactual) and the trend found after the intervention (intervention). Comparing the expected trend without intervention and the trend after intervention enables to identify possible changes and thus assess their impact. This analysis strategy, considered as a quasi-experimental method, has strong internal validity, mainly because of its control over the effects of regression on the mean. The formula of Huitema and Mckean⁹9. Huitema BE, Mckean JW. Design specification issues in time-series intervention models. Educ Psychol Measur 2000; 60(1): 38-58. https://doi.org/10.1177/00131640021970358
https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164002197035... (Equation 1) is used for the regression model for a single group:

Where:

Υ_t = outcome variable, aggregate measure at each equally spaced time point t;

T_t = time since the onset of the study;

X_t = dummy variable (indicator) representing the intervention (pre-intervention/event periods=0, otherwise=1);

X_tT_t = term of interaction between the time of the study and the intervention;

ε_t: random error present in every statistical formula.

In the case of a single-group study, the following should be done:

β₀ = represents the level of interception or onset of the outcome variable;

β₁ = slope or trajectory of the outcome variable until the introduction of the intervention;

β₂ = represents the change in the level of the outcome that occurs in the period immediately after the introduction of the intervention (compared to the counterfactual);

β₃ = represents the difference between the pre-intervention and post-intervention slopes of the outcome.

Thus, the analysis focuses on significant p-values at β₂, to indicate an effect of the immediate intervention, or at β₃, to indicate an effect of the intervention over time¹⁰10. Linden A, Adams JL. Applying a propensity score-based weighting model to interrupted time series data: improving causal inference in programme evaluation. J Eval Clin Pract 2011; 17(6): 1231-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2753.2010.01504.x
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2753.2010... . In this study, the months of November 2017 and February 2018 were considered as time frames, to analyze, as interventions, the change in the case definition criteria of SP and CS, respectively, and the month of March 2020, to analyze the impact of COVID-19.

Initially, analyses were performed by simple comparison of the mean rates of the “before and after” periods using the Student’s t-test. Subsequently, the time series models for CS and SP were adjusted using the Stata/MP 16.1 software. Monthly rates were adjusted to account for differences in month length and were decomposed into trend components (the increasing or decreasing value) and seasonal components (the monthly seasonal pattern) using the LOESS (Locally Estimated Scatterplot Smoothing) methodology of seasonal trend decomposition.

When there was evidence of residual seasonality, adjustments were made to the seasonal window parameter until no residual pattern remained. The Newey-West procedure was used to calculate the standard error of the regression coefficients, which produces consistent estimates in the presence of autocorrelation, in addition to a possible heteroscedasticity¹¹11. Wang Q, Wu N. Long-run covariance and its applications in cointegration regression. Stata J 2012; 12(3): 515-42. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x1201200312
https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x12012003... . Serial autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity were measured using the Cumby-Huizinga test¹²12. Cumby RE, Huizinga J. Testing the autocorrelation structure of disturbances in ordinary least squares and instrumental variables regression. Econometrica 1992; 60(1): 185-95. https://doi.org/10.2307/2951684
https://doi.org/10.2307/2951684... . The trend was calculated based on the Lincoln-Petersen estimate. A value of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results were presented in tables and graphs with the values of coefficient, standard errors, trend, p-value, and confidence intervals (95%CI).

As these are secondary data in the public domain, in accordance with Decree No. 7,724/2012 and Resolution No. 510/2016, which regulate access to information and the rules applicable to research in public domain databases, respectively, the authorization of the research ethics committee was not required.

RESULTS

From January 2015 to July 2021, 10,562 cases of SP and 7,670 cases of CS were reported in the state of Ceará. In Figure 1 we show the detection rate of SP and incidence of CS. Between 2015 and 2017, we observed a higher incidence rate of CS in relation to the detection rate of SP. As of 2017, with the recommendation by the MS to notify SP at the time of delivery and puerperium, there was a considerable increase in the detection rate of SP. Regarding CS, notifications did not follow this increase, possibly due to the change in the CS case definition criterion, which withdrawn the need for treatment of the pregnant woman’s sexual partner.

The estimated monthly detection rate of SP at the beginning of the time series was 5.4 per one thousand LB (95%CI 4.5; 5.9), with a significant upward trend of 0.14 until October 2017 (p<0.0001; 95%CI 0.12; 0.20). The mean crude detection rate in the analyzed period was 7.9 per one thousand LB. In November 2017, the detection rate increased to 12.3 per one thousand LB, implying a significant increase of 4.9 (p<0.0001; 95%CI 3.33–6.61), tending to stabilize from that point on.

The Lincoln-Petersen estimate produced by the post-trend specification showed a reduction of 0.01 from the previous trend, remaining stable, demonstrating that the ordinance increased the detection rate without, however, changing its trend. As for the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed no significant changes in the monthly detection rate (p=0.558; 95%CI 5.92; 3.22), nor in its trend in the evaluated period (p=0.7397; 95%CI 0.28; 0.3) (Table 1; Figure 2).

Regarding CS, an initial incidence rate of 8.2 per one thousand LB was estimated in 2015, indicating a significant increase of 0.07 in the monthly trend until 2021 (p<0.001; 95%CI 0.0; 0.1). In February 2018, after the publication of the information notice that changed the definition of the CS case, we identified no significant change in the monthly incidence rate. However, as of March 2017, there was a decrease of 0.1 notifications per one thousand LB in the monthly trend (p<0.001; 95%CI -0.2; -0.1) when compared to the period prior to the change in the case definition criterion. The Lincoln-Petersen estimate showed a decrease in the monthly trend of 0.06 in the incidence rate of CS per one thousand LB until April 2020 (p=0.0113; 95%CI -0.01; -0.02) (Table 2; Figure 3).

As of April 2020, the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed no significant change in the CS incidence in relation to the period after the change in case criteria. However, the Lincoln-Petersen estimate confirms a significant upward trend in these monthly rates of 0.19 (p<0.001; 95%CI 0.1; -0.31). The change in case criteria caused a reduction in the monthly incidence rates of CS of 0.06 per one thousand LB (p<0.011; 95%CI -0.01; -0.31), while the COVID-19 pandemic caused an increase of 0.19 per one thousand LB, with a significant difference of 0.26 (p<0.001; 95%CI 0.1; 0.39) monthly cases per one thousand LB (Table 2; Figure 3).

DISCUSSION

In this study, we show that there was a significant increase in the trend in the detection rate of SP between January 2015 and July 2021 due to the change in the case definition criterion and reduction in the speed of the increase after the COVID-19 pandemic period. There was a decrease in the trend in the CS incidence rate after the change in the case definition and a worrisome subsequent increase. That is, even with a less sensitive case definition, there was an increase in the trend in the CS incidence rate during the pandemic period.

These findings corroborate data from the MS that show a constant increase in the detection rates of SP and incidence of CS, which ranged from 10.9 to 27.1 and from 6.6 to 9.9 per one thousand LB in the years 2015 to 2021, respectively¹³13. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Sífilis [Internet]. Boletim Epidemiológico 2022; 6(1). 2022 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/centrais-de-conteudo/publicacoes/boletins/epidemiologicos/especiais/2022/boletim-epidemiologico-de-sifilis-numero-especial-out-2022/view
https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/centrais-... . Worldwide data that analyzed the incidence rate of CS between 2012 and 2016 showed a reduction in several regions of the world, except in the region of the Americas¹⁴14. Korenromp EL, Rowley J, Alonso M, Mello MB, Wijesooriya NS, Mahiané SG, et al. Global burden of maternal and congenital syphilis and associated adverse birth outcomes — estimates for 2016 and progress since 2012. PLoS One 2019; 14(2): e0211720. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211720
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.021... . Brazil may be contributing to this high rate, considering that other factors may contribute to the increase in SP and CS such as the implementation of rapid testing in the prenatal routine and the growth of acquired syphilis in the population¹³13. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Sífilis [Internet]. Boletim Epidemiológico 2022; 6(1). 2022 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/centrais-de-conteudo/publicacoes/boletins/epidemiologicos/especiais/2022/boletim-epidemiologico-de-sifilis-numero-especial-out-2022/view
https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/centrais-... .

In the search for studies in electronic databases on the topic of syphilis, there was a lack of information on the effects resulting from changes in the criteria for defining cases in notifications of SP and CS as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these events. It should be noted that, because this is a very current topic and still ongoing, there are no robust studies that allow comparisons and counterpoints, making it difficult to compare this type of analysis.

The limitation of this study was that we analyzed secondary data, thus subjecting it to issues related to data incompleteness and underreporting. It is noteworthy that in order to minimize these effects and improve the quality of the data, linkage was performed between different databases. In addition, a trend analysis of the rates of SP and CS was not performed after the implementation of the rapid test for syphilis during pregnancy, considering the unavailability of records, as this indicator was not linked to the receipt of resources by the municipalities¹⁵15. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Gabinete do Ministro. Portaria no 2.97 de 12 de novembro de 2019. Institui o Programa Previne Brasil, que estabelece novo modelo de financiamento de custeio da Atenção Primária à Saúde no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde, por meio da alteração da Portaria de Consolidação no 6/GM/MS, de 28 de setembro de 2017 [Internet]. Brasília: Diário Oficial da União, 13 de novembro de 2019 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/gm/2019/prt2979_13_11_2019.html.
https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegi... .

We identified that in 2018 there was an increase in the detection rate of SP and a decrease in the incidence rate of CS, which may have occurred due to the change in the definition of CS case, which excluded the need for partner treatment as a notification criterion, and the recommendation not to notify the pregnant woman at the time of delivery as a case of acquired syphilis, but as SP, a situation that had been occurring until 2017³3. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde Departamento de Vigilância, Prevenção e Controle das Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis, do HIV/Aids e das Hepatites Virais. Nota Informativa no 02-SEI/2017 – DIAHV/SVS/MS. Altera os critérios de definição de casos para notificação de sífilis adquirida, sífilis em gestantes e sífilis congênita [Internet]. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2017 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://portalsinan.saude.gov.br/images/documentos/Agravos/Sifilis-Ges/Nota_Informativa_Sifilis.pdf
https://portalsinan.saude.gov.br/images/... . National data show that between 2016 and 2017 there was a 15% increase in the incidence rate of CS (period before the change in the case definition), while in 2017 and 2018 (period after the change) this increase was only 6%¹⁶16. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Sífilis [Internet]. Boletim Epidemiológico 2019; 5(1). 2019 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/aids/pt-br/centrais-de-conteudo/publicacoes/2019/boletim-epidemiologico-sifilis-2019/view
https://www.gov.br/aids/pt-br/centrais-d... .

The recommendation to notify pregnant women with syphilis at the time of delivery/curettage or puerperium may have been the reason why there was no impact on the reduction in the incidence rate of CS, in addition to demonstrating loss of opportunity for treatment of pregnant women with syphilis and prevention of transmission of the infection to the baby. However, it was an important recommendation, considering that it gave greater visibility to the SP issue. The notification of the case only at the time of delivery or puerperium resulted in a lot of underreporting of cases. An increase in the detection rate of SP demonstrates the need to improve the quality of prenatal care and to adapt public policies to prevent and combat CS¹⁷17. Domingues CSB, Duarte G, Passos MRL, Sztajnbok DCN, Menezes MLB. Protocolo Brasileiro para Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis 2020: sífilis congênita e criança exposta à sífilis. Epidemiol Serv Saúde 2021; 30(spe1): e2020597. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-4974202100005.esp1
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-4974202100... .

When the notification of pregnant women was carried out only during prenatal care, in some Brazilian capitals, the detection rates of SP were lower than the incidence rates of CS. With the new recommendation, the detection rates of SP showed a significant increase in relation to the incidence of CS¹³13. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Sífilis [Internet]. Boletim Epidemiológico 2022; 6(1). 2022 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/centrais-de-conteudo/publicacoes/boletins/epidemiologicos/especiais/2022/boletim-epidemiologico-de-sifilis-numero-especial-out-2022/view
https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/centrais-... , which was observed in this study. It is worth noting that implementing rapid testing for syphilis in the first prenatal visit may also have contributed to the increase in the detection rate of SP.

In 2018, the ratio between the national detection rate of SP and the incidence of CS was 2.4 pregnant women with syphilis for one child with CS. The Federal District and 14 other states — eight in the Northeast Region (including the state of Ceará), one in the South, two in the Southeast, one in the North, and two in the Midwest — had a ratio lower than the national level¹⁶16. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Sífilis [Internet]. Boletim Epidemiológico 2019; 5(1). 2019 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/aids/pt-br/centrais-de-conteudo/publicacoes/2019/boletim-epidemiologico-sifilis-2019/view
https://www.gov.br/aids/pt-br/centrais-d... . In the state of Ceará, while in 2016 and 2017 there was an increase in the CS incidence rate of 12%, a reduction from 10.2 to 9.6 per one thousand live birth was observed in the following biennium¹⁶16. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Sífilis [Internet]. Boletim Epidemiológico 2019; 5(1). 2019 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/aids/pt-br/centrais-de-conteudo/publicacoes/2019/boletim-epidemiologico-sifilis-2019/view
https://www.gov.br/aids/pt-br/centrais-d... . In addition, we observed that the incidence rate of CS is far from the target agreed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which should be less than 0.5 cases per one thousand LB¹⁸18. Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde. Organização Mundial da Saúde publica novas estimativas sobre sífilis congênita [Internet]. Washington: OPAS, 2019 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://www.paho.org/pt/noticias/28-2-2019-organizacao-mundial-da-saude-publica-novas-estimativas-sobre-sifilis-congenita#:~:text=De%20coautoria%20da%20OMS%20e,significativa%20de%20mortes%20e%20doen%C3%A7a
https://www.paho.org/pt/noticias/28-2-20... ,¹⁹19. World Health Organization. Global guidance on criteria and processes for validation: elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B virus. Genebra: World Health Organization, 2021.

It should be noted that according to the PAHO report, in 2017, of the 15 countries that submitted data indicating the elimination of CS, seven received an elimination certification by the WHO. Nonetheless, this agency highlights that CS cases were on the rise in 37 other countries, with 22% more cases this year compared to those recorded in 2016¹⁸18. Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde. Organização Mundial da Saúde publica novas estimativas sobre sífilis congênita [Internet]. Washington: OPAS, 2019 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://www.paho.org/pt/noticias/28-2-2019-organizacao-mundial-da-saude-publica-novas-estimativas-sobre-sifilis-congenita#:~:text=De%20coautoria%20da%20OMS%20e,significativa%20de%20mortes%20e%20doen%C3%A7a
https://www.paho.org/pt/noticias/28-2-20... . In Brazil, 43 cities were certified that they have reached the goal established by the WHO for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis²⁰20. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Departamento de Doenças de Condições Crônicas e Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis. Certificação da eliminação da transmissão vertical do HIV e/ou sífilis [Internet]. 2022 [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/2022/dezembro/meta-atingida-43-municipios-recebem-selo-de-boas-praticas-e-certificacao-por-eliminacao-da-transmissao-vertical-do-hiv-e-sifilis/lista_de_municipios_final_-1.pdf.
https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/assuntos/... .

With regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are indications that, worldwide, the combined effects of pressure on the health system and social lockdown, as a measure to reduce the transmission of the disease, are pointed out as a cause of global delay in diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including SP, due to the decrease in testing of the population, resulting from the interruption of the usual patterns of health care in primary care, which became overloaded with the care of patients with respiratory symptoms as of March 2020, as evidenced in research conducted in the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States, and Brazil²¹21. Carr S. Missed and delayed diagnoses of non-COVID conditions − collateral harm from a pandemic [Internet]. Improve Dx Newsletter 2020; 7(4): 1-7. [acessado em 15 ago. 2023]. Disponível em: https://www.improvediagnosis.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Vol.-7-Issue-4.pdf
https://www.improvediagnosis.org/wp-cont...

22. Williams R, Jenkins DA, Ashcroft DM, Brown B, Campbell S, Carr MJ, et al. Diagnosis of physical and mental health conditions in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet Public Health 2020; 5(10): E543-E550. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30201-2
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30... -²³23. Lima NT, Buss PM, Paes-Sousa R. A pandemia da COVID-19: uma crise sanitária e humanitária. Cad Saúde Pública 2020; 36(7): e00177020. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00177020
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X0017702... .

In a time-series analysis study of STI notifications between August 1st, 2017 and August 1st, 2020 in Spain, a reduction of almost 50% in notifications in that region was evidenced. Syphilis had 22% fewer notifications, followed by chlamydia, with a reduction of 28%²⁴24. Sentís A, Prats-Uribe A, López-Corbeto E, Montoro-Fernandez M, Nomah DK, Olalla PG, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Sexually Transmitted Infections surveillance data: incidence dropo rastefact? BMC Public Health 2021; 21(1): 1637. https://doi.org/10.1 1.186/s12889-021-11630-x
https://doi.org/10.11.186/s12889-021-116... . A study whose authors analyzed the notification rates of SP in Brazil in the previous period and during the pandemic showed a 51.4% reduction in cases in the years 2020 and 2021, with important differences by federative units, with the North and Northeast regions showing the greatest reductions²⁵25. Carvalho MCJ, Duarte TC, Carvalho GCJ, Miranda Neto G, Silva YV, Silva LMS, et al. Changes in incidence and clinical classifications of syphilis in pregnant women due to the COVID- 19 pandemic. Res Soc Dev 2022; 11(4):e e35411427433. https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd- v11i4.27433
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i4.27433... .

This sharp decline observed in notifications during the COVID-19 pandemic could hardly be explained without considering the possibility of significant underreporting, the effective drop in the detection rate of acquired syphilis, possibly due to social isolation, the temporary barriers that hindered access to prenatal care, the reduction in routine consultations and exams, the prioritization of emergencies, and the exacerbation of social inequities during the pandemic²³23. Lima NT, Buss PM, Paes-Sousa R. A pandemia da COVID-19: uma crise sanitária e humanitária. Cad Saúde Pública 2020; 36(7): e00177020. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00177020
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X0017702... .

However, as demonstrated in this study, Ceará had an ascending detection rate of SP, signaling the commitment and care of professionals in reporting cases even in the face of adverse situations, such as work overload and consequent physical and emotional exhaustion, identified among health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic²²22. Williams R, Jenkins DA, Ashcroft DM, Brown B, Campbell S, Carr MJ, et al. Diagnosis of physical and mental health conditions in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet Public Health 2020; 5(10): E543-E550. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30201-2
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30... ,²⁶26. Teixeira CFS, Soares CM, Souza EA, Lisboa ES, Pinto ICM, Andrade LR, et al. A saúde dos profissionais de saúde no enfrentamento da pandemia de Covid-19. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva 2020; 25(9): 3465-74. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232020259.19562020
https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232020259... . It is worth considering that since 2014 there has been an increase in the implementation of the rapid test for syphilis in the first prenatal visit, which may also have contributed to this rate.

The magnitude of the occurrence of vertical transmission of syphilis shows that this epidemic is far from being controlled, becoming more severe when it overlaps with another epidemic with a high morbidity and mortality rate, such as COVID-19, responsible for the recent collapse of the health system, a fact that imposes a great challenge for health managers and professionals regarding the effectiveness of actions to control and eliminate CS and its consequences.

All in all, we can conclude that between 2015 and June 2021, the trend in the detection rate of SP and in the incidence rate of CS was impacted by changes in the criteria for defining cases of these diseases, proposed by the MS, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

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