Determinants of gonorrhea and syphilis infections among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Dilla University Referral Hospital, Ethiopia: Unmatched case-control study

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the risk factors associated with gonorrhea and syphilis infections among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic at Dilla University Referral Hospital. METHOD: A hospital-based unmatched case-control study (64 cases and 128 controls) with 1:2 ratios was conducted from 29 January 2018 to 20 June 2018, at the antenatal care clinic of the Dilla University Referral Hospital. Venous blood and vaginal swab were collected to screen for gonorrhea and syphilis. A pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to gather data on sociodemographic and predisposing factors. Logistic regression analysis used to identify risk factors for sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women at 95% confidence interval and p-value < 0.05. RESULT: A total of 64 cases of syphilis or gonorrhea were identified with a mean age of 26 years (±4.1 years.). Of those cases, 40 were syphilis seropositive and the remaining were gonorrhea cases. Lower educational status (adjusted odds ratio = 2.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.1–4.9), age of first sex <18 years (adjusted odds ratio = 2.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.3–5.9), history of abortion (adjusted odds ratio = 3.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.4–6.6), and having two or more sexual partners in the past year (adjusted odds ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.1–5.7) were significantly associated with gonorrhea and syphilis infection. CONCLUSION: Demographic, behavioral, and obstetric factors are associated with the occurrence of syphilis or gonorrhea among pregnant women. Strengthening the existing antenatal care services, providing health education on risk factors, and prioritizing women with the risk characteristics and initiation of gonorrhea and syphilis screening during antennal care are mandatory.