A new study says one in five pregnant people in Ontario were not properly screened for syphilis, a preventable disease that can be fatal when passed from mother to baby.
The research, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, examined health administrative data for more than 550,000 pregnancies in the province between 2018 and 2023.
Sahar Saeed, who co-authored the study, says data shows that more than 44,000 pregnant people were not screened for syphilis with a blood test when they should have been in the first trimester or at the initial prenatal visit.
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Of those screened, more than 13,000 did so late, in the third trimester or at delivery.
Research shows that the sooner syphilis is diagnosed and treated in pregnancy, the less chance there is of adverse outcomes.
The consequences of missed or late screenings can include miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, developmental delay, blindness and deafness.
She says the study found gaps in access to prenatal care were particularly pronounced in marginalized communities facing the greatest barriers.
The sexually transmitted infection is treated with one to three benzathine penicillin shots, depending on the stage of the illness.
being liberal correct is funny as f ,,, “people kind ” how hard is it to say WOMEN ??? its not confusing only women can get pregnant . its fact!!
Not pregnant people, pregnant WOMEN. The mind is a terrible thing to lose-particularly when it is the collective mind of an entire generation.
Pregnant PEOPLE?????? Get bent with this nonsense already.
What a crazy world… pregnant people… editors should go back to school and sit in a biology class… facts are facts.
Men have to be asked by health professionals if they’re pregnant,or could be pregnant… I’ve heard this being asked men while in the waiting area
Last time I checked, only women can be pregnant. What is this world coming to?
Pregnant People. Correction- Pregnant Women- In case you didn’t know biological men can not have babies
Good
Needless testing costs taxpayers money best spent elsewhere
Why are we trying to confuse readers? Pregnant “people”, do you mean women??
Last time I checked, dudes cant squeeze a baby out of their genitals. Lets live in reality please…
1 in 5 pregnant WOMEN…there, fixed your heading.