Metrics details. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection STI transmitted from person to person mainly by sexual intercourse or through vertical transmission during pregnancy. Female sex workers FSWs are exposed especially to syphilis infection, and besides all the efforts to control the spread of STIs, syphilis prevalence is still rising, mainly occurring in low-income countries.
This study aimed to investigate the syphilis prevalence, demographic characteristics and sexual habits among FSWs in the Amazon region of Brazil. A venereal disease research laboratory test and an indirect immunoenzyme assay to test antibodies against Treponema pallidum were used for screening syphilis infection, while sexual habits and demographic data information were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire.
Poisson regression models were used to estimate the reasons of prevalence RP. The overall prevalence of syphilis was A high prevalence of syphilis among FSWs in the Brazilian Amazon region was identified, showing that syphilis is more likely to be transmitted in FSW working in low-income areas, which is attributed to the low level of education.
Anal intercourse was found as a risk factor associated with syphilis. Health programs focused on risk populations appear as a rational way to control syphilis spread, which is a rising problem in Brazil and in other several countries. Peer Review reports. Brazil has an important emerging economy and the largest territorial area in South America, however, the population still live in a wide gap of socioeconomic inequality. This combination of large territorial area with several remote areas and economic inequality creates a big challenge to governments to provide social inclusion, access to appropriate education and healthcare [ 1 ].
Thus, this paper focused on this last group of people, where syphilis is more likely to be endemic. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection STI caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum , a spirochaete bacterium well-known for its invasiveness and immune-evasiveness [ 2 ]. This bacterium is primarily transmitted by sexual exposure or through vertical transmission during pregnancy.
