Article Text
Abstract
Introduction The goal of this study is to investigate syphilis infection status among partners of syphilis-infected pregnant women, and to analyse the associated factors from the perspective of both pregnant women and their partners.
Methods This study was based on Shenzhen Program for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of Syphilis. Follow-up survey and contact tracing were conducted among syphilis-infected pregnant women diagnosed from 2008 to 2015. Both toludine red unheated serum test (TRUST) and treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) were applied to partners attending antenatal care clinics. Structural questionnaire was used to collect information. Binary logistic regression model was applied to analyse the factors associated with partners’ syphilis infection.
Results During the studied years, 6318 pregnant women were identified with syphilis infection and 5351 partners of these women visited the antenatal care clinics and took the serological testing. From the laboratory record and clinical examination results, 1148 partners were diagnosed with syphilis infection. The infection rate decreased from 26.23% in 2008 to 15.07% in 2015. The partners were more likely to have syphilis infection when pregnant women with TRUST titers≥1 8 or at the early syphilis stage. The partners had more risk of syphilis infection when they had multiple sex partners.
Conclusion Syphilis infection rate among partners of syphilis-infected pregnant women is high. Pregnant women’s levels of TRUST titer and disease stage as well as partners’ sexual behaviours were important factors associated with partners’ syphilis infection. Partner notification and contact tracing is an important way to identify syphilis patients.