Prevalência de sífilis adquirida no Estado da Paraíba: 2012 a 2021.

Abstract

Acquired syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria called Treponema pallidum. It is a pathology with broad clinical manifestation and different stages, which present symptomatic and asymptomatic periods, being classified as: primary, secondary, recent latent, late latent and tertiary syphilis. The present study aimed to analyze the prevalence of acquired syphilis in the state of Paraíba, as well as its epidemiological profile, according to cases registered in the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). This is an epidemiological, descriptive cross-sectional study, which addressed confirmed cases of syphilis acquired in the state of Paraíba in the period from 2012 to 2021. The Chi-square Test of Independence was used and p<0,05 was accepted as statistically significant. The variables analyzed were: municipality of infection, year of first symptoms, evolution, diagnostic criteria, sex, race, age group and education. 6.562 cases of acquired syphilis were recorded during the studied period. There was a progressive increase in cases until 2019, with a significant drop in those in 2020 and 2021. Regarding the municipality of infection, 166 of the 223 municipalities in the state registered cases and Cabedelo was the municipality with the highest prevalence coefficient (0,35 cases/1.000 inhabitants). Those most affected by syphilis were male (64,6%), aged between 20 and 59 years old (82,2%), black/brown (82,2%) with medium/high level of education (51,2%). Statistical significance was found between the variables of age group and sex and age group and education. The lethality rate indicated a predominance of males aged 20- 59 years. The most used diagnostic criteria was laboratory (49%) and (26,82%) of cases progressed to cure. Furthermore, the number of cases recorded as ignored/blank in some variables was quite significant. In view of the data presented, the need to adopt preventive health education measures in the state of Paraíba is evident, in order to raise awareness among the population regarding the risks of syphilis, aiming to reduce the number of cases. Furthermore, the training of health professionals who fill out the notification form is also extremely important.