Spatial scenery of congenital syphilis in Brazil between 2007 and 2018: an ecological study

Abstract

Objective

To analysis the epidemiological scenery of the congenital syphilis (CS) in Brazil employing spatial analysis techniques.

Design

Ecological study.

Settings

This study was conducted in Brazil

Sample

A total of 151 601 CS cases notified to the Diseases and Notification Information System from 2007 to 2018 from children aged 0–23 months and born from mothers living in Brazil were included in this study.

Primary outcome measures

The CS incidence rates were calculated by triad (2007–2010, 2011–2014 and 2015–2018) for all Brazilian municipalities following the Boxcox transformation to remove the discrepant values. The transformed rates were analysed through the spatial autocorrelation of Moran, Kernel density estimative and spatial scan.

Results

From 2007 to 2018, the CS incidence rates increased in all Brazilian regions. The CS spread towards the interior of Brazil, and a higher expansion was noticed between 2015 and 2018. The municipalities that were greatly affected by the CS were those having a high migration of people, such as the ones bordering other countries and the touristic cities. Recife, Campo Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre and Manaus were the capitals with the greatest spatial and spatiotemporal risk.

Conclusion

This study provides assistance to health authorities to fight CS in Brazil. More investment is necessary in prenatal care quality focusing on pregnant women and their partners to guarantee their full access to preventive resources against sexually transmitted infections.