EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF CONGENITAL SYPHILIS CASES IN THE STATE OF ALAGOAS BETWEEN THE PERIOD FROM 2013 TO 2023.

Abstract

This article aimed to outline the epidemiological profile of congenital syphilis cases—a systemic, sexually transmitted infectious disease that progresses chronically and occurs exclusively in humans—in the state of Alagoas between 2013 and 2023. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving a retrospective analysis of temporal trends using an epidemiological approach; this relied on the analysis of public data primarily provided by the Ministry of Health's Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS) and processed via TABNET, a public-domain tabulation tool. A total of 4,200 confirmed cases of congenital syphilis were observed in Alagoas during the 2013–2023 period, with notifications notably concentrated in municipalities with larger populations—particularly Maceió, which accounted for over 80% of all recorded cases. These findings lead to the conclusion that, although neonatal screening is being carried out with relative effectiveness, there are persistent shortcomings in prenatal care and the prevention of vertical transmission. It is crucial to invest in improving the quality of care provided to pregnant women and their partners, especially in the state's interior regions.