A new survey has shown that four out of ten pregnant women who sought care last year tested positive for Syphilis.
A report dubbed ‘It is a Race against Time’ released by the National Syndemic Disease Control Council to mark World Aids Day 2022 showed that the number of pregnant women diagnosed with Syphilis increased by 35 per cent from 10,000 in 2018 to 14,873 last year.
Nairobi county recorded the highest number of women with Syphilis at 1,789 followed by Homa Bay at 1,453, Nakuru 794, Kericho 759, Narok 753, Migori 750, Kajiado 542, Turkana 525, Meru 488, Nandi 452, Busia 461 with Baringo recording 314.
Some of the counties that recorded the least numbers include Lamu and Marsabit with only eight cases each, Kirinyaga with 9 cases, Wajir 12, West Pokot 21, Samburu 24, Taita Taveta 26, Embu 35, Makueni 72 cases.
“It is crucial that all women are provided with early syphilis screening and treatment as part of high-quality antenatal care, to enable a positive pregnancy experience. In addition, all women diagnosed with syphilis and their infants require treatment,” says the study.
National Syndemic Disease Control Council CEO Ruth Masha had earlier confirmed a reoccurrence of sexually transmitted diseases despite the availability of effective treatments and reliable prevention strategies.
“Two decades ago, we were not recording any case of syphilis, unfortunately, we are seeing a comeback and something needs to be done. This is not only in women attending the antenatal but also in teenagers. This is dangerous because it is the second-most common cause of stillbirths in the world. Even one mother testing positive for the disease should be a cause for concern,” she said.
Syphilis is a bacterial disease that can be passed on through sex without the use of a condom, sharing of injecting equipments and from mother to child during pregnancy.
Syphilis in pregnant women can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or the baby’s death shortly after birth.
Approximately 40 percent of babies born to women with untreated syphilis can be stillborn or die from the infection as a newborn.
Early diagnosis and adequate treatment of the mother, ideally before the second trimester of pregnancy can quickly cure the fetus and minimize severe results.