Seroprevalence of syphilis among women attending urban antenatal clinics in Burkina Faso, 1995-8

Objectives: To describe annual trends in syphilis seroprevalence and to ide ntify risk factors of syphilis among pregnant women receiving antenatal car e in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Methods: Women were recruited between January 1995 and July 1998 in three a ntenatal clinics when counselling and HIV testing services had been establi shed in the context of a trial evaluating a short course of zidovudine to r educe mother to child transmission of HIV (ANRS 049 trial). Sociodemographi c variables were collected during HIV pretest counselling sessions. Syphili s diagnosis was considered when serum was positive with both rapid plasma r eagin and Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA) tests. Results: Overall, 10 980 pregnant women were screened. Syphilis seroprevale nce was 0.24% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15-0.35) without changes ove r time. HIV prevalence was 8.8% (CI: 8.3-9.3). In a multivariable analysis, having casual sex partners (odds ratio (OR) = 4.48; CI: 1.62-12.38), being HIV seropositive (OR = 2.62; CI: 1.02-6.74), and being illiterate (OR = 3. 78; CI: 1.24-11.48) were independent risk factors for syphilis infection. Conclusions: This study suggests low syphilis seroprevalence in this city o f Burkina Faso. Sexually transmitted disease programmes should be reinforce d to offer free access to syphilis screening and treatment in order to elim inate this disease, in coordination with HIV prevention and care.