Risk Factors Associated with Congenital Syphilis, Georgia, 2008-2015

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Congenital syphilis (CS) significantly contributes to adverse perinatal outcomes.
• Understanding risk factors for CS is crucial for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and compare risk factors associated with congenital syphilis (CS) in pregnancies.
• To evaluate geographic and socioeconomic factors as indicators of healthcare inequity in CS cases.

Main Methods:

• Linked maternal and congenital syphilis data from Georgia (2008-2015).
• Followed STROBE reporting guidelines for observational studies.
• Used chi-square, Fisher's exact, and multivariate regression analyses.

Main Results:

• 23% of women with syphilis had infants with CS.
• Factors associated with CS included maternal age >35, hospital diagnosis, and high-risk behaviors.
• No association found between county of residence characteristics and CS outcome.

Conclusions:

• Identified key risk factors for congenital syphilis incidence.
• Highlights the need for improved data collection and targeted prevention measures for CS in the US.