Document 0296
 DOCN  M9440296
 TI    Syphilis-associated perinatal and infant mortality in rural Malawi.
 DT    9404
 AU    McDermott J; Steketee R; Larsen S; Wirima J; Epidemiologist, Malaria
       Branch, Centers for Disease Control and; Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333.
 SO    Bull World Health Organ. 1993;71(6):773-80. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94147532
 AB    In Mangochi District, a rural area of Malawi, the prevalence of active
       syphilis was 3.6% among 3591 women who had singleton births and who were
       negative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Compared with
       non-syphilitic women, those with active syphilis (positive Venereal
       Disease Research Laboratory/rapid plasmin reagin tests (titre > or =
       1:8) and a reactive microhaemagglutination assay) were more likely to
       experience stillbirths as well as the early and late neonatal deaths and
       even postneonatal deaths of their children. Characteristics associated
       with active syphilis were not very useful in targeting women at high
       risk of having the condition, which makes universal screening in
       antenatal programmes the most efficacious way to prevent
       syphilis-associated morbidity and mortality. The potential for a
       programme to prevent congenital syphilis in the perinatal, neonatal, and
       post-neonatal periods is evident. In considering resource allocation to
       child survival programmes in areas where the prevalence of syphilis is
       high, officials need to include antenatal syphilis screening, using
       rapid tests and treatment at the first contact of the mother with the
       health care system.
 DE    *Child Welfare  Female  Fetal Death/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/ETIOLOGY  Human
       Infant  Infant Mortality  Infant, Newborn  Malawi/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Mass
       Screening/METHODS  Multivariate Analysis  Pregnancy  Pregnancy
       Complications, Infectious/BLOOD/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/  PREVENTION & CONTROL
       Pregnancy Outcome  Prenatal Diagnosis/METHODS  Prevalence  Prospective
       Studies  Risk Factors  *Rural Health  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
       Syphilis/BLOOD/COMPLICATIONS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION & CONTROL/
       TRANSMISSION  Syphilis, Congenital/*MORTALITY/PREVENTION &
       CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).