Preventing Congenital Syphilis Through Prenatal Care: Qualitative Findings from a Pilot Clinical Program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Maternal Health
• Syphilis Prevention

Background:

• Congenital syphilis (CS) is preventable with prenatal screening and treatment.
• Barriers like housing instability and substance use disproportionately affect at-risk populations.
• The Pregnancy Connections pilot program aimed to prevent CS through comprehensive care for these individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from the Pregnancy Connections pilot program.
• To evaluate a patient-centered model for preventing congenital syphilis in vulnerable populations.
• To identify key components for effective intervention implementation.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing interviews with program staff, patients, and eligible non-enrolled individuals.
• Analysis of interview transcripts to identify program outcomes and areas for improvement.
• Exploration of patient and provider perspectives on care delivery and barriers.

Main Results:

• Program successes included respectful care, reduced access barriers, improved coordination, and better patient outcomes.
• Challenges involved difficulties in internal and external care coordination, suboptimal patient engagement, and limited outreach.
• Lessons learned emphasized the need for targeted outreach, referral systems, incentives, and organizational support.

Conclusions:

• Effective interventions are crucial for addressing congenital syphilis.
• Patient-centered prenatal care with comprehensive support shows promise for high-risk populations.
• Addressing the needs of vulnerable and stigmatized groups is essential for public health.