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Stevenson M, Guillén J, Ortíz J, Ramírez Correa JF, Page KR, Barriga Talero MÁ, López JJ, Fernández-Niño JA, Núñez RL, Spiegel P, Wirtz AL. Syphilis prevalence and correlates of infection among Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Colombia: findings of a cross-sectional biobehavioral survey. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. AMERICAS 2024; 30:100669. [PMID: 38298201 PMCID: PMC10827575 DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2023.100669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Background Population-based estimates of syphilis prevalence are critical to informing public health response. We aimed to measure syphilis prevalence among Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Colombia to inform public health programming. Methods Between July 2021 and February 2022, we surveyed 6221 adult Venezuelan refugees and migrants in four cities in Colombia using respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Participants completed a survey and dual-rapid HIV/treponemal syphilis screening. Confirmatory laboratory-based rapid plasma reagin testing was conducted on whole blood samples. Active syphilis infection was defined as RPR titer ≥ 1:8 and no self-reported syphilis treatment. We used multivariable regression models to identify associations with active syphilis infection among subgroups by gender and history of pregnancy (cisgender men n = 2123, cisgender women n = 4044, transgender/nonbinary people n = 47, pregnant women n = 150). Findings Population (RDS-weighted) prevalence of laboratory-confirmed syphilis was 5.1% (95% CI: 4.6-5.6). Syphilis prevalence was 5.8% (weighted) among men; lifetime sexually transmitted infections (STI) diagnosis, same-sex relationships, HIV infection, and partner number were independently associated with syphilis infection. Syphilis prevalence was 4.6% (weighted) in women; correlates of infection included: lifetime STI diagnosis, food insecurity, current engagement in sex work, current pregnancy, any unsafe night in Colombia, irregular migration status, and no healthcare utilization in Colombia. 14.9% (unweighted) of transgender participants had syphilis infection; correlates of infection included partner number and HIV infection. The prevalence of syphilis was 9.0% (weighted) among pregnant women, which was associated with lifetime STI diagnosis. Interpretation Syphilis among Venezuelans in Colombia is high. Correlates of infection are distinct among demographic groups, spanning sexual and social vulnerabilities, suggesting tailored public health strategies. Funding US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Stevenson
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kathleen R. Page
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Center for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Infectious Disease, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Paul Spiegel
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Center for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrea L. Wirtz
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Center for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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García YD, Ureña FA, Carrión-Nessi FS, Díaz SY, Ávila AA, Omaña-Ávila ÓD, Freitas-De Nobrega DC, Guilliod-Grossmann CR, Soto LM, Carballo M, Landaeta ME, Forero-Peña DA. HBV, HCV, or syphilis coinfection with HIV in pregnant women seen at the main hospital in the capital of Venezuela. HIV Med 2023; 24:372-375. [PMID: 35934876 DOI: 10.1111/hiv.13372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yoel D García
- Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital of Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Francisco A Ureña
- Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital of Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Fhabián S Carrión-Nessi
- Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela.,"Dr. Francisco Battistini Casalta" Health Sciences School, University of Oriente - Bolivar Nucleus, Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela
| | - Sol Y Díaz
- Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela.,"Luis Razetti" School of Medicine, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Atahualpa A Ávila
- "Luis Razetti" School of Medicine, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Óscar D Omaña-Ávila
- Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela.,"Luis Razetti" School of Medicine, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Diana C Freitas-De Nobrega
- Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela.,"Dr. Francisco Battistini Casalta" Health Sciences School, University of Oriente - Bolivar Nucleus, Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela
| | | | - Lily M Soto
- Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital of Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Martín Carballo
- Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital of Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - María E Landaeta
- Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital of Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - David A Forero-Peña
- Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital of Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela.,Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela
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Velu PP, Gravett CA, Roberts TK, Wagner TA, Zhang JSF, Rubens CE, Gravett MG, Campbell H, Rudan I. Epidemiology and aetiology of maternal bacterial and viral infections in low- and middle-income countries. J Glob Health 2011; 1:171-88. [PMID: 23198117 PMCID: PMC3484781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries has remained exceedingly high. However, information on bacterial and viral maternal infections, which are important contributors to poor pregnancy outcomes, is sparse and poorly characterised. This review aims to describe the epidemiology and aetiology of bacterial and viral maternal infections in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS A systematic search of published literature was conducted and data on aetiology and epidemiology of maternal infections was extracted from relevant studies for analysis. Searches were conducted in parallel by two reviewers (using OVID) in the following databases: Medline (1950 to 2010), EMBASE (1980 to 2010) and Global Health (1973 to 2010). RESULTS Data from 158 relevant studies was used to characterise the epidemiology of the 10 most extensively reported maternal infections with the following median prevalence rates: Treponema pallidum (2.6%), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (1.5%), Chlamydia trachomatis (5.8%), Group B Streptococcus (8.6%), bacterial vaginosis (20.9%), hepatitis B virus (4.3%), hepatitis C virus (1.4%), Cytomegalovirus (95.7% past infection), Rubella (8.9% susceptible) and Herpes simplex (20.7%). Large variations in the prevalence of these infections between countries and regions were noted. CONCLUSION This review confirms the suspected high prevalence of maternal bacterial and viral infections and identifies particular diseases and regions requiring urgent attention in public health policy planning, setting research priorities and donor funding towards reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasad Palani Velu
- Centre for Population Health Sciences and Global Health Academy, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
- Joint first or senior authorship
| | - Courtney A. Gravett
- Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS), Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Joint first or senior authorship
| | - Tom K. Roberts
- Centre for Population Health Sciences and Global Health Academy, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Thor A. Wagner
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jian Shayne F. Zhang
- Centre for Population Health Sciences and Global Health Academy, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Craig E. Rubens
- Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS), Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Joint first or senior authorship
| | - Michael G. Gravett
- Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS), Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Joint first or senior authorship
| | - Harry Campbell
- Centre for Population Health Sciences and Global Health Academy, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
- Joint first or senior authorship
| | - Igor Rudan
- Centre for Population Health Sciences and Global Health Academy, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
- Joint first or senior authorship
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