Gestational syphilis and prenatal care: a study in light of individual, social, and programmatic vulnerabilities

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the perception of women diagnosed with gestational syphilis regarding prenatal care within the Family Health Strategy and to discuss the individual, social, and programmatic vulnerabilities related to this context. Method: Qualitative and descriptive research, conducted with 20 women diagnosed with gestational syphilis, reported at two Family Clinics located in the Santa Cruz neighborhood, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil. Data collection was carried out through individual semi-structured interviews in the participants’ homes, and data processing was performed using the software IRAMUTEQ. Results: The participants were mostly mixed-race or black, with low levels of education, unemployed, and with low income, indicating social vulnerability. Syphilis was primarily diagnosed during pregnancy, with some cases only identified during childbirth or postpartum. The results pointed to individual, social, and programmatic vulnerabilities related to lack of knowledge, barriers to access, and failures in prenatal care. Conclusion: Gestational syphilis is associated with social and structural factors that require integrated actions in health education, strengthening prenatal care, and expanding the involvement of partnerships in treatment.