CONGENITAL SYPHILIS: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS AND EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN RIO GRANDE DO NORTE
Congenital Syphilis, Primary Health Care, Primary Prevention, Continuing Education
INTRODUCTION: Congenital syphilis is a severe bacterial disease that can be prevented through the detection and appropriate treatment of pregnant women with syphilis during prenatal care. In light of the increasing number of congenital syphilis cases worldwide, failures have been identified in the implementation of existing public health policies to combat syphilis within the scope of Primary Health Care (PHC). In this context, Permanent Health Education (PHE), which involves learning and professional improvement processes based on the daily needs of health services, promotes changes in care practices and serves as a valuable ally. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the temporal and spatial distribution of reported congenital syphilis cases in a referral hospital for maternal and child care in the 5th Health Region of RN and, based on this, carry out an educational intervention with PHC health professionals to combat vertical transmission of syphilis in a municipality with higher vulnerability to case occurrence in the region. MATERIAL AND METHOD: An initial observational, exploratory, and descriptive study with a quantitative approach, documentary, and retrospective in nature, was conducted to analyze the temporal and spatial distribution and the characterization of congenital syphilis cases reported by Huab from June 2016 to 2023. For this purpose, 307 congenital syphilis notification forms from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sinan) were analyzed. Based on the data analysis, the municipality of Bom Jesus – RN was selected, and the educational intervention, the workshop “Combating Syphilis from Pregnancy to Birth,” was implemented. RESULTS: The epidemiological study revealed a progressive increase in congenital syphilis cases in the sample between June 2016 and 2023, with a 64,58% growth rate in notifications. The municipalities with the highest average incidence rates of congenital syphilis (per 1,000 live births) were São Bento do Trairi (23,6), São Pedro (23,4), Lajes Pintadas (23,2), and Bom Jesus (22,4). Furthermore, it was identified that, starting in 2019, the diagnosis of gestational syphilis was predominantly made at the time of delivery, demonstrating the fragility of prenatal care offered in the studied region. Subsequently, the educational intervention was implemented, aiming to sensitize and train different categories of PHC health professionals in combating syphilis and congenital syphilis. During the workshop, we discussed the epidemiological situation of syphilis, the natural history of the disease, clinical and laboratory diagnosis, treatment, mandatory notification, and case monitoring. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Identifying emerging areas for congenital syphilis case occurrence enables the targeting of interventions to these locations, increasing the effectiveness of health actions. The need to expand the availability of laboratory tests for syphilis diagnosis during prenatal care and greater involvement of PHC in popular health education activities is emphasized. These efforts should align with promoting maternal and child health and strengthening public policies to combat syphilis.