Policy Considerations for Reducing Congenital Syphilis
May 16, 2023 | JoAnne McClure, Maggie Davis, Julia Greenspan, Christina Severin
Rates of congenital syphilis (CS)—when a pregnant person passes the infection to the infant during pregnancy or birth—are continuing to climb at an alarming rate in the United States. CS causes stillbirth, infant death, and/or other serious and permanent complications including musculoskeletal defects, vision and hearing problems, and developmental delays. Timely diagnosis and treatment of syphilis among pregnant people can prevent CS. Public health leaders can help by supporting policy solutions that reduce structural barriers to syphilis diagnosis and treatment during pregnancy and encourage better access to regular prenatal care for all pregnant people.