Ontario Study Finds 1 in 5 Pregnancies Miss Timely Syphilis Screening

A significant number of pregnant individuals in Ontario are not receiving timely syphilis screening, according to a new study, highlighting persistent gaps in prenatal care within a publicly funded health system. The research, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found that one in five pregnancies did not receive screening at the recommended time.

The study analyzed data from 551,706 pregnancies among 446,660 people in Ontario between 2018 and 2023. It found that 79% of pregnant individuals were screened in the first trimester, aligning with global guidelines that recommend universal screening at the initial prenatal visit. However, 8% were not screened at all during their pregnancy. Among those who were screened, approximately 3% received their test in the third trimester or at delivery, which is considered late.

Timely screening is critical because syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy or delivery. If left untreated with antibiotics, it can lead to severe outcomes for infants, including death. Over the past decade, rates of infectious syphilis among females of reproductive age in Canada have risen...