Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Syphilis Screening Among Commercially-Insured Pregnant Women in the United States
By Tara E. Wood, Jodie A. Dionne, Ligong Chen and 2 others.
Abstract
Background
Congenital syphilis (CS) incidence increased by 81.7% in the United States (US) between 2020 and 2024. Syphilis screening is recommended at the first prenatal visit and at delivery, but poor compliance may lead to inadequate screening and preventable CS cases.
Methods
Using a US-wide collection of longitudinal healthcare claims data, we identified a cohort of commercially-insured pregnant women aged 15-44 years. Women were included if they had a pregnancy resulting in a live birth, stillbirth, or spontaneous abortion during 2017-2021. We described patterns of syphilis screening, diagnoses, and treatment. We also linked women to their infants and examined missed opportunities for CS prevention.
