IMPACTO DA PANDEMIA DE COVID-19 NOS ÍNDICES EPIDEMIOLÓGICOS DE SÍFILIS NO ESTADO DO CEARÁ: ANÁLISE DE VARIAÇÕES EM CASOS DE SÍFILIS ADQUIRIDA, CONGÊNITA E GESTACIONAL ENTRE 2017 E 2023

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the variation in epidemiological indices of syphilis in the state of Ceará, Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on acquired, congenital, and gestational syphilis. The research followed an ecological, descriptive, and quantitative design, using data from the National Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN) between 2017 and 2023. Data on new syphilis cases before (2017-2019) and during the pandemic (2020-2023) were collected and comparatively analyzed. A significant reduction in acquired syphilis diagnoses was observed in 2020, likely due to the reallocation of resources and a decrease in testing during the pandemic. On the other hand, there was an increase in congenital and gestational syphilis cases, indicating potential gaps in prenatal care and reproductive health services. The study concludes that the pandemic negatively impacted syphilis control in Ceará, especially in terms of early detection and treatment of acquired syphilis. The findings highlight the need for more effective public policies to mitigate the impact of health crises on sexually transmitted infection control.