Abstract:
Background: Syphilis is an infectious sexually transmitted disease caused by the Spirochete
Treponema palladium. Untreated maternal syphilis causes adverse pregnancy outcomes such as
spontaneous miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, neonatal death, and congenital syphilis.
There was a limited case control study to identify determinants of syphilis infections at the
study area.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify determinants of syphilis among pregnant
women attending ANC clinic at Public hospital in South West Shoa, Ethiopia, 2023.
Methods: A facility based unmatched case- control study among 240(48 case and 192 control)
with 1:4 ratios were conducted from March 10, 2023 – May 10, 2023 among pregnant women
attending antenatal care follow at public hospital, South West Shoa. Cases were selected by
Convenience and systematic sampling techniques were employed to select control and data
was collected by using structured and pretested questionnaire. The collected data were entered
into Epi info version 7.2.5 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Variable having p value < 0.25 in the bi-variable analysis was entered into logistic regression model for multi
variable analysis. Statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05. Adjusted odd ratio
along with 95% confidence interval was used to show strength of association. The result was
presented using text, table and graphs.
Results: In this study 235 women (47 cases and 188 controls) were completed the interview
giving the response rate of 97.92%. Unplanned pregnancy [AOR = 2.697, 95% CI (1.003-
7.249, ANC follow-up [AOR = 4.556, 95% CI (1.759-11.80)], history of STI [AOR = 3.080,
95% CI (1.347-7.043)], alcohol intake [AOR = 3.965, 95% CI (1.56-10.078)], age at started
sexual intercourse at age [AOR = 8.951, 95% CI (3.70-21.646)] and multiple sexual partner
[AOR = 2.754, 95% CI (1.065-7.118)] were significantly associated factors with Syphilis
infection.
Conclusion: Unplanned pregnancy, no ANC follow-up, history of STI, alcohol intake, age
started sexual intercourse <18 years, and multiple partners were determinants of syphilis
infection. Therefore, health care providers should focus on health education on these
determinants, and strengthening early diagnosis and treatment for STI.
