THE ROLE OF NURSES IN THE PREVENTION OF CONGENITAL SYPHILIS

Abstract

Congenital syphilis remains a serious public health problem in Brazil, being a preventable infection through effective prevention, early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment during prenatal care. Nurses, as essential professionals in Primary Health Care, play a central role in this process, acting in the promotion of maternal and child health and in interrupting vertical transmission of the disease. This study aims to analyze the role of nurses in the prevention of congenital syphilis, identifying the main strategies, challenges, and contributions of this professional in the context of Primary Health Care, with a view to improving the quality of prenatal care and reducing vertical transmission of the disease. This was a descriptive literature review with a qualitative approach, carried out in the SciELO, LILACS, BVS, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases, considering publications between 2015 and 2025. The search used the controlled descriptors: congenital syphilis, nursing, prevention, and primary health care. The results show that nurses play a leading role in controlling congenital syphilis, standing out in conducting rapid testing, penicillin treatment, partner follow-up, mandatory reporting, and health education. However, studies point to significant challenges, such as gaps in prenatal care coverage, treatment discontinuity, and insufficient professional training. The discussion revealed consensus among the authors regarding the importance of continuing education and multidisciplinary action to strengthen preventive strategies. It is concluded that nurses play an indispensable role in reducing congenital syphilis, and that strengthening public policies, improving care practices, and expanding professional qualifications are necessary to ensure the effectiveness of preventive actions.