In Zambia, the health of pregnant women remains a critical concern, particularly with infections such as syphilis, silently affecting birth outcomes. Despite the proven effectiveness of benzathine penicillin G (BPG) for treating syphilis during pregnancy, many women remain untreated, which may lead to adverse birth outcomes such as preterm delivery, low birthweight, congenital syphilis, or neonatal death.

This study by Albert Manasyan, Anna V. Jones, Yumo Xue, Herbert Kapesa, Maureen Mzumara, Jodie A. Dionne, and Mwangelwa Mubiana-Mbewe explores the intersection of Syphilis and HIV, examining how HIV co-infection influences treatment rates and adverse birth outcomes among pregnant women diagnosed with syphilis across ten antenatal care clinics in Zambia.

By uncovering gaps in timely treatment, the research highlights an urgent need for universal access to syphilis care to safeguard maternal and newborn health. Read the full study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40899461/