Desafios e oportunidades na prevenção e controle da sífilis congênita nas unidades básicas de saúde: uma revisão integrativa Sorocaba

Abstract

Syphilis is one of the oldest sexually transmitted infections documented to date, and is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Despite having well-defined diagnostic criteria and being treatable, it persists as a relevant public health problem, especially in its gestational form, in which the lack of adequate treatment can result in vertical transmission to the fetus, contributing to the development of congenital malformations. Objective: To investigate in the scientific literature the challenges and opportunities in the prevention and control of congenital syphilis in basic health units. Method: This is an integrative literature review aiming to synthesize the existing evidence on the challenges and opportunities in the prevention and control of congenital syphilis in basic health units. The research was guided by the guiding question ‘’what are the main challenges faced by health systems in the prevention and control of congenital syphilis?’’ Studies published between 2019 and 2023, available in the PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library (SciELO) and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases were included. A search strategy was used with the keywords “Congenital Syphilis” and “Gestational Syphilis and prevention and control”. After the initial screening of 876 studies without the inclusion criteria, the following were selected according to the following criteria: A total of 876 articles were found without the screening criteria. After adopting the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 123 articles were selected in total. After reviewing and reading the texts, nine articles were selected from the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO) database; four from PubMed; and one from the Virtual Health Library (VHL). Data analysis was performed by grouping studies into thematic categories to identify patterns and gaps in the literature. Results: This study identified the main challenges and opportunities in the prevention and control of congenital syphilis in Basic Health Units (UBS). Among the challenges, the following stand out: the lack of continuous training of health professionals, the limitation of diagnostic resources, and the resistance of some pregnant women to adhere to treatment. On the other hand, significant opportunities were identified, such as the implementation of more rigorous protocols, the expansion of educational campaigns, and the integration of prenatal services with other areas of health. The findings of this study provide a basis for the development of more effective strategies to combat congenital syphilis in UBS, aiming at reducing the incidence and improving care for pregnant women. Conclusion: The research revealed that, despite advances in the detection and treatment of gestational syphilis, congenital syphilis continues to be a significant challenge due to regional inequalities and gaps in the quality of health services. The analysis highlighted the need for an integrated approach that improves coordination between levels of care, addresses socioeconomic barriers, and strengthens social support networks. To effectively reduce the incidence of congenital syphilis, it is essential to adopt more robust public policies and implement health practices that ensure quality and accessible care for all pregnant women and newborns