Epidemiological profile of gestational syphilis in the Xingu health region, in the state of Pará, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the incidence of gestational syphilis and outline the epidemiological profile of affected pregnant women in the Xingu Health Region, Pará, between 2014 and 2024. Methods: Observational, descriptive, and retrospective epidemiological study based on secondary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). Pregnant women reported with syphilis in the municipalities of the region were included, excluding Indigenous women, cases not recorded in SINAN, and pregnant women with coinfections. Sociodemographic variables, gestational age at diagnosis, and clinical classification were analyzed. Incidence rates were calculated per 1,000 pregnant women, with temporal and spatial analysis using descriptive statistics and association tests. Results: A total of 1,138 cases were recorded, with a mean incidence of 13.62 per 1,000 pregnant women and an increasing trend between 2018 and 2023. Most cases involved women aged 21 to 30 years, with low educational level and self-identified as mixed-race. Diagnosis occurred predominantly in the third trimester, with a predominance of the primary form. The highest incidences were observed in Anapu, Altamira, and Vitória do Xingu. Conclusion: Gestational syphilis remains a significant public health problem in the region, with an increasing trend. Limitations such as underreporting and data quality may have influenced the findings.