Knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women about prevention and transmission of syphilis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21527/2176-7114.2026.51.16254Keywords:
Syphilis, Pregnancy, Vertical Transmission of Infectious Diseases, Knowledge, AttitudeAbstract
Objective: to analyze pregnant women’s knowledge and attitudes regarding the prevention and transmission of syphilis. Methods: an analytical cross-sectional study carried out in two public maternity hospitals in Teresina, Piauí, between November 2023 and January 2024, involving 165 pregnant women. Data were collected through the application of a validated questionnaire covering sociodemographic aspects, sexual behavior, knowledge, and attitudes toward syphilis prevention and transmission. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation, Pearson’s chi-square test, and binomial logistic regression. The magnitude of association between categorical variables was assessed using the odds ratio. Results: among the 165 pregnant women, 71.5% were aged 30 years or younger, 69.1% were married or living with a partner, and 70.1% had more than nine years of schooling. Regarding sexual behavior, 58.2% had their first sexual intercourse between ages 15 and 19, 43% reported not using a condom during their first sexual intercourse, and 19.4% had had more than 10 sexual partners over their lifetime. Regarding the prevention and transmission of syphilis, 45.5% had regular knowledge and 37% had inadequate knowledge. Negative attitudes toward prevention and transmission of the disease predominated (40%). Regular and adequate knowledge showed statistical significance with very positive and positive attitudes of pregnant women toward syphilis prevention and transmission (p<0.05). Conclusion: there was a correlation between pregnant women’s knowledge and attitudes regarding syphilis, highlighting that those with greater knowledge had better attitudes toward preventing and understanding the transmission of the disease.
References
1. Lara LLP, Soares L de A, Winter ML, Tosi MC, da Silva LC, Rocha LLV. Análise do perfil epidemiológico da Sífilis em gestantes utilizando sistemas de informação em saúde do DATASUS. Braz. J. Health. Rev. 2022;5(1):3148-64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34119/bjhrv5n1-275
2. Rocha AFB, Araújo MAL, Barros VL de, Américo CF, Silva Júnior GB da. Complications, clinical manifestations of congenital syphilis, and aspects related to its prevention: an integrative review. Rev. Bras. Enferm. 2021;74(4):e20190318. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2019-0318
3. Ministério da Saúde (BR). Atenção integral às pessoas com infecções sexualmente transmissíveis (IST) [Internet], 2022. Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/protocolo_clinico_atecao_integral_ist.pdf
4. Benítez J, Yépez MA, Hernández-Carrillo M, Martínez DM, Cubides-Munevar Ángela, Holguín-Ruiz JA, et al. Características sociodemográficas e clínicas da sífilis gestacional em Cali, 2018. Biomédica. 2021;41(Sp.2):140-52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7705/biomedica.6003
5. Dantas, J. D. C., Marinho, C. D. S. R., Pinheiro, Y. T., & Silva, R. A. R. D. (2022). Temporal Trend of Gestational Syphilis between 2008 and 2018 in Brazil: Association with Socioeconomic and Health Care Factors. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 2022; 19(24), 16456. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416456
6. Sousa Leal AL de, Roberta Maciano F, Scarparo Navarro R, Alencar Luz AL de, Portela Leal M da C, Francisco de Deus W. Sífilis em gestantes: uma análise espacial. Rev Recien. 2021;11(36):65-73. DOI: 10.24276/rrecien2021.11.36.65-73
7. Solidade JS, Leitão FNC, Lopez AGP, Pereira POB, Jastrow JMB, Morais MJ de D, de Sousa OF. Tendência temporal de sífilis congênita e sífilis em gestantes no município de Rio Branco Acre, 2014 – 2020. RESP. 2023;1(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.59788/resp.v1i3.38
8. Miranda CCS, Torres DSB, Falcão ESN, Barros LSR, Costa LC, Tavares AC, et al. Análise epidemiológica das notificações de Sífilis Congênita em Teresina-PI. Rev. Casos Consult. 2021;12(1):e27451–1. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufrn.br/casoseconsultoria/article/view/27451/15099
9. Almeida AS, Andrade J, Fermiano R, Jamas MT, Carvalhaes MABL, Parada CMGL. Sífilis na gestação, fatores associados à sífilis congênita e condições do recém-nascido ao nascer. Texto Contexto Enferm. 2021;30:e20200423. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-265X-TCE-2020-0423
10. Lima TJA, Queiroz JM, Oliveira KKD, Lima MVC, Rodrigues PS. Atenção à sífilis no pré-natal: percurso do diagnóstico ao encaminhamento. Rev. Cient. Enferm. Recien. 2023;13(41):738–46. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24276/rrecien2023.13.41.738-746
11. Palhares RF, Coelho CM, Anjos LD, Fonseca LT, Fonseca FR, Ferreira DB, et al. Conhecimento das gestantes acerca da Sífilis e a importância da educação em saúde. Braz. J. Hea. Rev. 2020;3(3):7073–80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34119/bjhrv3n3-238
12. Gomes NS, Prates LA, Wilhelm LA, Lipinski JM, Velozo KDS, Pilger CH, et al. “Só sei que é uma doença”: conhecimento de gestantes sobre sífilis. Rev. bras. promoç. saúde. 2021;34:10964. DOI: 10.5020/18061230.2021.10964
13. Oliveira LR, Câmara MMGC da; Valle Mgdo, Alves FC, Assis FCM de, Takatsu E, et al. Autoconhecimento das gestantes sobre a sífilis congênita. Braz. J. Health Rev. 2024; 7(2): e68011. DOI: 10.34119/bjhrv7n2-087.
14. Elm EV, Altman DG, Egger M, Pocock SJ, Gøtzsche PC, Vandenbroucke JP. Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. BMJ. 2007;335(7624):806-8. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39335.541782.
15. Borges BVS, Gir E, Galvão MTG, Moura MEB, Brito GMI, Magalhães RDLB. Adesão ao seguimento clínico de mulheres profissionais do sexo com sífilis. Cogit. Enferm. 2020;25: e65456. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5380/ce.v25i0.65456
16. Medronho RA. Epidemiologia. 2. ed. São Paulo: Atheneu; 2009. Disponível em: https://edisciplinas.usp.br/pluginfile.php/5062663/mod_resource/content/3/Cap_Epidemiologia%20Medronho%20Sec.%202.pdf
17. Carvalho RXC, Araújo TME. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of university adolescents about syphilis: a cross-sectional study in the Northeast. Rev. Saúde Pública. 2020;54:120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054002381
18. Fox J, Weisberg S. Car: Companion to Applied Regression. The Jamovi Project. Jamovi (version 2.3). Computer Software, 2020. Disponível em: https://www.jamovi.org/
19. Araujo GAS, Maranhão TA, Sousa GJB, Silva TL, Silva IG, Vasconcelos MN. Distribución espacio-temporal y factores relacionados con la sífilis congénita en el nordeste brasileño. Enferm. glob. 2023;22(69):337-383. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.6018/eglobal.524931
20. Wu SY, Wuang J, Guo Q, Zhang JJ, Chen Y, Li G. Prevalência de infecções pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana, sífilis e vírus das hepatites B e C em gestantes: uma revisão sistemática e meta-análise. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. 2023; 29(8):1000-1007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2023.03.002
21. Santana NCS, Lino CM, Silva ATC, Batista MJ. Fatores associados à transmissão vertical de sífilis em um município do Estado de São Paulo. Rev. Epidemiol. Controle Infecç. Revista de Epidemiologia e Controle de Infecção. 2023;13(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.17058/reci.v13i2.18097
22. Rigo FL, Romanelli RMC, Oliveira IP, Anchieta LM. Assistance and educational factors associated to congenital syphilis in a referral maternity: a case-control study. Rev. Bras. Saúde Mater. Infant. 2021; 21(1): 127–137. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-93042021000100007
23. Mendes LMC, Takada HP, Siqueira SB, Mendes LC, Lino LA, Aguiar Júnior RC, Sobrinha NP do R, Lopes FR. Estudo epidemiológico avaliando a manutenção dos casos de sífilis adquirida de 2017 a 2021 no Brasil. Braz. J. Dev. 2022; 8(7):52386-98. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34117/bjdv8n7-247
24. Felisbino-Mendes MS, Araújo FG, Oliveira LVA, Vasconcelos NM, Vieira MLFP, Malta DC. Comportamentos sexuais e uso de preservativo na população brasileira: análise da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde, 2019. Rev. Bras. epidemiol. 2021;24:e210018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-549720210018.supl.2
25. Lopes Pereira A, Ribeiro Da Silva L, Palma L, Coutinho L, Moura L, Assis Moura M, et al. Impacto do grau de escolaridade e idade no diagnóstico tardio de sífilis em gestantes. Femina. 2020; 48(9):563–70. Disponível em: https://docs.bvsalud.org/biblioref/2020/10/1122585/femina-2020-489-563-567
26. Laurentino ACN, Ramos BA, Lira CS, Lessa IF, Taquette SR. Atenção à saúde dos parceiros sexuais de adolescentes com sífilis gestacional e seus filhos: uma revisão integrativa. Ciênc. Saúde Colet. 2024;29:e12162023 DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232024295.12162023
27. Favero MLDC, Ribas KAW, Costa MCD, Bonafe SM. Sífilis congênita e gestacional: notificação e assistência pré-natal. Arch. Health. Sci. 2022;26(1):2-8. DOI: 10.17696/2318-3691.26.1.2019.1137
28. Rodrigues JP, Chaves LS, Martins AGA, Santos EM, Cravo LCC, Melo AB, et al. Conhecimento das gestantes acerca da sífilis congênita em unidade de Atenção Primária à Saúde de Belém, Pará. Concilium. 2023;23(10):21-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53660/CLM-1324-23K45
29. Attanasio JCO, Andrade MEO, Tanure SS, Schacht V, Oliveira YE, Bello CMM, et al. Avaliação do conhecimento de gestantes e puérperas frente ao cenário da sífilis gestacional em município de Minas Gerais. Rev. Méd. Minas Gerais. 2021; 31(0):67–73. Disponível em: https://rmmg.org/artigo/detalhes/3813
30. Borba KB, Silva RM. Sociodemographic risk factors for gestational syphilis in a maternity hospital in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Rev. Ciênc. Saúde. 2022;12(4):42-47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21876/rcshci.v12i4.1326.
31. Ozelame JÉEP, Frota OP, Ferreira Júnior MA, Teston EF. Vulnerabilidade à sífilis gestacional e congênita: uma análise de 11 anos. Rev. Enferm. UERJ. 2020;28:e50487. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12957/reuerj.2020.50487
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Luiza Carolinda de Sousa, Ana Luiza Vieira Dias, Braulio Vieira de Sousa Borges, Jefferson Abraão Caetano Lira, Antonio Filho Alves Rodrigues, Gilney Guerra de Medeiros, Verbenia Cipriano Feitosa Silva, Rosilane de Lima Brito Magalhães
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
By publishing in Revista Contexto & Saúde, authors agree to the following terms:
The works are licensed under the Creative Commons Atribuição 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) license, which allows:
Share — to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format;
Adapt — to remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial.
These permissions are irrevocable, provided that the following terms are respected:
Attribution — authors must be properly credited, with a link to the license and indication of any changes made.
No additional restrictions — no legal or technological measures may be applied that restrict the use permitted by the license.
Notes:
The license does not apply to elements in the public domain or covered by legal exceptions.
The license does not grant all rights necessary for specific uses (e.g., image rights, privacy, or moral rights).
The journal is not responsible for opinions expressed in the articles, which are the sole responsibility of the authors. The Editor, with the support of the Editorial Board, reserves the right to suggest or request modifications when necessary.
Only original scientific articles presenting research results of interest that have not been published or simultaneously submitted to another journal with the same objective will be accepted.
Mentions of trademarks or specific products are intended solely for identification purposes, without any promotional association by the authors or the journal.
License Agreement (for articles published from September 2025): Authors retain copyright over their article and grant Revista Contexto & Saúde the right of first publication.
