Objectives. A study was conducted to assess the prevalence of maternal syphilis and esti- ABSTRACTSyphilis continues to be a widespread global health problem, affecting 12 million people each year and resulting in significant morbidity and mortality (1). SubSaharan Africa has the highest prevalence of gestational syphilis, with up to 17% of pregnant women testing positive for syphilis at antenatal clinics (2). Several Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Haiti, also have very high reported rates of the disease (3, 4). Congenital syphilis rates closely parallel rates of primary and secondary syphilis in women of child-bearing age (5).Syphilis in pregnancy is a major risk for the mother and the fetus, frequently causing miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death (6). Adverse pregnancy outcomes are known to occur in up to 80% of women with active syphilis during gestation (7). Congenital syphilis, particularly if untreated, usually causes deleterious consequences to the child-including deafness, blindness, and mental retardation. Given that 50% of infants with congenital syphilis are asymptomatic at birth (8), many such children born to women with unrecognized gestational syphilis could remain untreated. Early prenatal screening for syphilis, and proper treatment of women during pregnancy, is therefore the most costeffective approach to avoid prenatal complications and the high morbidity