HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR SYPHILIS IN INDIVIDUALS AGED 10 TO 19 YEARS FROM 2014 TO 2024: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

This article aims to describe and categorize cases of hospitalizations due to recent and latent syphilis among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, between 2014 and 2024, with the objective of analyzing the epidemiological profile of the disease and its relationship with sociodemographic factors. A descriptive study was conducted using secondary data extracted from the DATASUS database, comprising a sample of 171 hospitalizations. The methodology included both qualitative and quantitative analyses, considering variables such as age, sex, municipality of hospitalization, length of hospital stay, hospitalization costs, and stage of infection. Data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 25, applying descriptive statistics and inferential tests with a significance level of p < 0.05. The results showed a higher concentration of cases in metropolitan municipalities, a predominance among female adolescents, a greater frequency in older adolescents, and a higher prevalence of early-stage syphilis. A strong negative correlation was also identified between the Municipal Human Development Index (HDI) and the number of reported cases. The study concludes that syphilis among adolescents is closely associated with socioeconomic, geographic, and temporal factors, highlighting the need to strengthen prevention strategies, health education, and access to diagnostic and treatment services, particularly in socially vulnerable regions.