Ontario prenatal syphilis screening gaps

New research published in the Canadian Medical Association>>> reveals that one in five pregnant individuals in Canada — Ontario>>> did not receive timely syphilis screening between 2018 and 2023. The study, conducted by researchers from Queen s University>>> and International Council for the Exploration of the Sea>>> with funding from the Canada — Canadian Institutes of Health Research>>>, analyzed over half a million pregnancies. It found that 8% were not screened at all, and 3% were screened late in the third trimester or at delivery. This delay in screening is critical as congenital syphilis rates have significantly increased in Canada>>>, posing severe risks including infant death. The authors, including Sahar Saeed>>> and Andy Featherstone>>>, emphasize the need for comprehensive, nonjudgmental care and complementary strategies like opportunistic screening and community-based outreach to address barriers to access, particularly for equity-deserving populations.