Congenital Syphilis Prevention in Honduras

Background:  Honduras is a Central American country whose priority is the elimination of congenital syphilis in 2015. Objective: To prevent transplacental transmission of syphilis from mother to daughter / son during the gestational period.

Methods:  Descriptive retrospective analysis from January 2008 to December 2012 in 117 health units without a laboratory from the Preventive Program transmission of syphilis from mother to daughter / son that detects syphilis during pregnancy in attending antenatal women, using rapid tests for free and voluntary screening.

Results:  Year 2008 4.950 pregnant women were screened, 10 of them were reactive, with a prevalence of 0.2%, in 2009 7.285 pregnant women were screened of which 17 were reactive with a prevalence of 0.2%, in the year 2010 5.310 pregnant women were screened of which 5 were reactive with a prevalence of 0.09%, in 2011 8.343 pregnant women were screened of which 20 were reactive with prevalence of 0.2% and 2012 9.320 women were screened of which 14 were reactive with a prevalence of 0.1%.

Conclusions:  During the five years 66 pregnant women were screened with syphilis, all received treatment with their partners and were followed until delivery, of which 57 (86%) of the children born were free of congenital syphilis, 7 pregnant women have not yet reached the time birth and 1 pregnant woman did not return for follow-up service. Screening for syphilis during pregnancy is key to preventing transplacental transmission of syphilis from mother daughter/son. The free screening with rapid tests for syphilis in pregnant women in places that do not have clinical laboratories improved the access and permitted the early capture of syphilis, also they were provided with timely treatment with their sexual partner. A rapid test for syphilis is an essential tool for early diagnosis of congenital syphilis prevention.