Seroprevalence of syphilis and its risk factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar, northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of syphilis among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, northwest Ethiopia. RESULT: Of the total 384 screened women for syphilis, 10 (2.6%) were found to be seropositive for Treponema pallidum. The odds of infection were about ten times (COR = 9.77, p = 0.002) higher in divorced women than in married women. The likelihood of syphilis was almost three times higher among rural residents compared to urban residents (COR = 3.48, p = 0.079). The likelihood of being infected with syphilis was about five times higher (COR = 5.25, p = 0.018) in women who had prior history of multiple sexual partners. The risk of syphilis was 4.42 (p = 0.071) and 2.67 fold (p = 0.226) greater in women with previous history of abortion and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), respectively. It can be concluded that a relatively low seroprevalence of syphilis was observed among the study subjects. Nevertheless, health promotion activity directed at raising the awareness of the community towards the modes of transmission of syphilis and its health impact is important in the prevention of the disease in pregnant women.