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The decentralization of syphilis screening for improved care in Jamaican public clinics. Collaborative Working Group
F M Behets1, A Brathwaite, L Bennett
1Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7030, USA.
Objectives:
This study examined the decentralization of syphilis screening for improved care in Jamaican public clinics.
Methods:
One of every five serum samples tested at the six peripheral sites was frozen and retested at the central laboratory in Kingston. Patient files and laboratory logbooks were compared over a 3-month period.
Results:
Between May 1993 and December 1994, 15.5% of 32913 patients with sexually transmitted diseases and 8.3% of 8914 women seeking prenatal care were found syphilis seroreactive. Of 2001 samples evaluated, 1933 (96.6%) had been correctly reported at the peripheral sites. Of 129 syphilis seroreactors detected at the peripheral sites, 88 (68%) were treated the same day and 21 (16%) more within 3 days after testing.
Conclusions:
Syphilis seroreactors were accurately detected and quickly treated at the peripheral sites. If these efforts can be sustained, Jamaican syphilis rates should decrease.
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