Panorama da situação epidemiológica da sífilis adquirida e congênita no Brasil: uma análise direcionada ao âmbito social e medidas preventivas

Abstract

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Treponema pallidum, affecting humans since the era of the great navigations. Currently, it is associated with an exponential number of annual cases both worldwide and in Brazil, complicating control, reduction, or elimination in the population. Therefore, the epidemiological situation of syphilis in Brazil during the period from 2015 to 2023 was analyzed, associated with social variables, coping measures promoted by health organizations, and dissemination of information to society. A descriptive, analytical, and quantitative study of an informative nature was conducted, focusing on the rates of acquired and congenital syphilis in the country, in which, to investigate this scenario, the database of the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) and the 2023 Epidemiological Bulletin released by the Ministry of Health were used to quantify cases of the disease in the Brazilian territory, based on the variables established during the period from 2015 to 2023. During the study period, 1,201,327 cases of acquired syphilis and 202,167 cases of congenital syphilis were identified. Males showed a higher predominance of cases, with the age group of 20 to 29 years being particularly notable. It was also observed that the Southeast region (especially the state of São Paulo) has the highest number of cases of both forms of transmission. Furthermore, acquired syphilis correlated with the social sphere, showing a numerically high prevalence among individuals identified as pardos (mixed race) and the prevalent educational level of the infected being completed high school. Regarding congenital syphilis, it was observed that Brazil has a prenatal coverage of 90%, with the majority of pregnant women undergoing prenatal care, although it does not reflect its quality. It is concluded that syphilis is a disease with a high number of cases in Brazil. In this context, the number of cases is related to vulnerabilities (whether economic, geographical, or educational) of the infected, associated with a lack of specific knowledge to understand the severity and risks that this disease poses, leading to its dissemination in the population.