Comparative Study of the Prevalence of Syphilis among Pregnant Women and Prospective Blood Donors in Ekiti State, South Western Nigeria

Background: Syphilis is a highly contagious, systemic bacterial illness that poses a serious public health threat on a worldwide scale. In addition to being spread sexually, the illness can also be contracted through blood donation. To accurately evaluate the epidemiological pattern and community impact of the disease, this research sought to ascertain the seroprevalence of syphilis among pregnant women and potential blood donors. In Ekiti State, southwest Nigeria, a comparative study was conducted to determine the frequency of syphilis among expectant mothers and potential blood donors.

Materials and Methods: For this comparison research, which was conducted over a 12-month span, 370 potential blood donors and 300 antenatal enrolees were both selected. After getting each participant's full permission, a questionnaire comprising socio-demographic data was given, and 5 ml of whole blood was drawn by venepuncture into an EDTA bottle. Within seconds, plasma was extracted into a clear receptacle using spinning at 2500g for 5 minutes. ELISA-based fast test tools from Diaspot and Lab Acon were used to find Treponema pallidum. Each sample's reactivity to the two test instruments was read as a positive result, while each sample's lack of reactivity was interpreted as a negative result.

Results: Syphilis seroprevalence among expectant mothers was 2.0% and 0% among female blood donors. Male blood donors had a syphilis seroprevalence of 2.1%, which was comparable to the seroprevalence of 2.0% observed in expectant women.

Conclusion: The screening of potential blood donors and pregnant women for syphilis must be required, available, and cheap as this will improve early detection of the disease for proper therapy. There is a significant correlation between syphilis infection and pregnancy and blood donors.