A model of prevention of mother-to-child transmission and health management team for improving adverse outcomes of pregnancy syphilis in Ningxia, China

• Published in: BMC infectious diseases 2024-10, Vol.24 (1), p.1134-6, Article 1134
• Main Authors: Zhang, Chenglei, Yue, Jinwei, Ji, Liying, Huang, Yongxiang, Shi, Qingmei, Yang, Xiulian, Wang, Jingjiao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adverse outcomes; Analysis; Birth weight; Children; Childrens health; China - epidemiology; Congenital diseases; Counseling; Disease transmission; Effectiveness; Female; Genetic disorders; Health aspects; Health education; Health management; Hospitals; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infants; Infants (Newborn); Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical - prevention & control; Intervention; Knowledge; Low birth weight; Maternal & child health; Methods; Minority & ethnic groups; Miscarriage; Neonates; Ningxia; Patient outcomes; Population structure; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - prevention & control; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnant women; Premature birth; Prevention; Prevention of mother-to-child transmission; Public health; Questionnaires; Serology; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Stillbirth; Syphilis; Syphilis - epidemiology; Syphilis - prevention & control; Syphilis - transmission; Syphilis, Congenital - epidemiology; Syphilis, Congenital - prevention & control; Syphilis, Congenital - transmission; Teams; Womens health; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-2334; 1471-2334
• DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-10029-4

Regional variations exist in the implementation of Syphilis Mother-to-Child Transmission Prevention (PMTCT). Thus, it is crucial to assess the effectiveness of this model in the Ningxia region and explore the supplementary role of Health Management Teams (HMT). This study established the PMTCT + HMT model and examined its impact on adverse outcomes in pregnant women with syphilis infection. The majority of participants were urban residents, married, had a minimum high school education, and held public positions; 36.7% and 26.7% were from minority ethnic groups. The PMTCT + HMT model enhanced participants' knowledge, rates of voluntary counseling, and testing. The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes (miscarriages, preterm births, stillbirths) significantly decreased, and adverse neonatal outcomes (low birth weight, neonatal mortality, congenital syphilis) were notably reduced. Simultaneously, we identified factors associated with adverse outcomes, including non-residency, unmarried status, lower educational attainment, minority ethnicity, primary syphilis, and positive titers. Thus, HMT may be an effective intervention to enhance the effect of PMTCT for syphilis. The unique population structure in Ningxia is closely linked to adverse outcomes, highlighting the significance of providing equitable treatment for vulnerable populations.