Ontario Study Finds One in Five Pregnancies Miss Timely Syphilis Screening

Overview

• The CMAJ study published Tuesday found that one in five pregnancies in Ontario lacked first‑trimester syphilis screening.
• Researchers analyzed 551,706 pregnancies from 2018 to 2023, with 79% screened early, 8% not screened, and about 3% screened late.
• Late or missed tests clustered in populations facing barriers to prenatal care, including equity‑deserving groups.
• Canada recorded 14.5 congenital syphilis cases per 100,000 live births in 2023, showing why delays raise risks for stillbirth, preterm birth, or lifelong disability.
• Authors recommend opportunistic screening and community outreach with point‑of‑care tests to reach people who do not access traditional prenatal care.