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Sex Transm Infect 2005;81:220-222 doi:10.1136/sti.2004.011999
  • Syphilis

Treatment for syphilis in antenatal care: compliance with the three dose standard treatment regimen

  1. S Mullick1,
  2. M Beksinksa2,
  3. S Msomi2
  1. 1Population Council, Frontiers in Reproductive Health, Hyde Park Lane Manor, EG001 Edinburgh Gate, Hyde Park, Box 411744, Craighall 2024, Johannesburg, South Africa
  2. 2Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, Suite 1301, Maritime House, 143 Salmon Grove, Durban, South Africa
  1. Correspondence to:
 S Mullick
 Population Council, Frontiers in Reproductive Health, Hyde Park Lane Manor, EG001 Edinburgh Gate, Hyde Park, Box 411744, Craighall 2024, Johannesburg, South Africa; smullickpcjoburg.org.za
  • Accepted 3 September 2004

Abstract

Background: In South Africa, three doses of benzathine penicillin 2.4 MU at weekly intervals are recommended for treating syphilis in pregnancy. Limited information is available on compliance with the recommended regimen, in terms of time to starting treatment, number of doses, and timing of treatment.

Methods: The study was conducted to establish the degree of compliance with treatment for syphilis. Timing of treatment and the titres of the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) positive women were recorded. A retrospective record review was conducted of 18 128 antenatal records. These were records of women attending antenatal care clinics in a tertiary hospital catchment area in KwaZulu Natal between February 2001 and January 2002.

Results: Treatment patterns showed that 15.9% received no treatment, 13.2% one dose, 5.8% received two doses, and 64.8% received three doses. In total, 188 women (1.03%) were found to be RPR positive. Of these 36% were found to be high titre positives (titre ≥1:8).

Conclusion: Completed treatment was significantly associated with age of gestation at first visit (p = 0.029), with women attending later in pregnancy less likely to receive all three doses of treatment.

Footnotes

    Responses to this article

    • Syphilis and pregnancy in Italy, our experience.
      • Roberta Bilenchi,
      • S. Poggiali, L. Andreassi, G. Centini° and M. Fimiani.
      Sex Transm Infect published online November 25, 2005

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