The status of maternal syphilis in India: status quo?

Abstract

Syphilis is a major public health concern particularly in vulnerable populations. Maternal syphilis mainly causes congenital syphilis, which contributes to the high risk of stillbirth. Data on the prevalence and trends of maternal syphilis in the Indian population are very limited. This narrative review assesses current trends, geographic distribution, and determinants of syphilis in pregnancy and its potential impact on birth outcomes. The incidence of syphilis is increasing worldwide, the seroprevalence of syphilis in pregnancy among Indian women was 0.14% in 2015, and the prevalence was lower (0.10%) in the following HIV sentinel surveillance year from 2016–2017 to 2020–2021. Population-based screening for syphilis during pregnancy is very low (<25%) in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), and the screening rate is even lower in India (37%). As syphilis cases is on the rise globally, the public health workforce needs to increase screening rates and effectively implement existing guidelines in Indian medical settings.