Antenatal Screerirg and Maternal and Congenital Syphilis at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital

Abstract

The quality of antenatal screening for syphilis was analysed and syphilis serology was carried out on mothers and their babies at the time of delivery at Ga- Rankuwa Hospital, over a period of six weeks. Four hundred and eighty four(484) of 567 (85%) mothers had received some form of antenatal care at a clinic, a hospital of from a general practitioner. Antenatal blood specimens for syphilis serology had been taken from 380/484, (78,5%) of the women but only 278/484 (57,4%) had results available at delivery. Of these, thirty five (35) women, (12,5%) had reactive serology, but only 3/35, (8,6%) received full therapy and 16/35, (16%) received partial therapy, mainly in the third trimester. Serological tests for syphilis on mothers at delivery were reactive in 94 of 567, (16,6%). Of the 469 newborns studied, there were 3 cases (0,6%) of congenital syphilis, 7 (1,5%) stillbirths associated with maternal syphilis and 66, ( 14,1%) babies who were assessed as having serology compatible with syphilis, although apparently asymptomatic. Recommendations at are made for antenatal screening for syphilis and treatment of RPR reactive patients.