{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T20:39:02Z","timestamp":1777927142893,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2016,2,27]],"date-time":"2016-02-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1456531200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Int J STD AIDS"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Strengthening current surveillance systems for syphilis is important to track and monitor disease burden. We used routinely collected laboratory information to generate surveillance estimates for syphilis trends among women of reproductive age (12\u201349 years) in the Northern Cape Province, a high syphilis burden region (2003 [8.6%] to 2011 [3.8%]) in South Africa. We extracted records meeting inclusion criteria from the National Health Laboratory Service electronic database for the period 2003\u20132012. A total of 286,024 women were included in the analysis. Syphilis seropositivity decreased between 2003 (5.7%) and 2012 (1.8%); p trend\u2009=\u20090.001, which was largely consistent with findings reported in the annual national syphilis and HIV survey from 2003 (8.6%) to 2011 (3.8%). Annually for the period from 2003 to 2012 there was an approximate 14% reduction in the prevalence ratio of syphilis seroprevalence (PR\u2009=\u20090.86, 95% CI\u2009=\u20090.85\u20130.87, p\u2009&lt;\u20090.001). Three of five districts had significant decreases in syphilis seropositivity over this period. There were also declines in prevalence ratios for syphilis seropositivity for the various age groups for the period. This study shows that the national laboratory database in South Africa can be used as a complimentary surveillance tool to describe and understand trends in syphilis seroprevalence in South Africa.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/0956462416636727","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2016,2,28]],"date-time":"2016-02-28T21:03:29Z","timestamp":1456693409000},"page":"564-572","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Decline in syphilis seroprevalence among females of reproductive age in Northern Cape Province, South Africa, 2003\u20132012: utility of laboratory-based information"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"28","author":[{"given":"Ngormbu J","family":"Ballah","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"South African Field Epidemiology Training Programme, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, South Africa"},{"name":"Centre for HIV and STI, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, South Africa"},{"name":"Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lazarus R","family":"Kuonza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"South African Field Epidemiology Training Programme, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, South Africa"},{"name":"Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Gloria","family":"De Gita","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for HIV and STI, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alfred","family":"Musekiwa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global Disease Detection Program, Pretoria, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Seymour","family":"Williams","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global Disease Detection Program, Pretoria, South Africa"},{"name":"Division of Global Health Protection, Center for Global Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Simbarashe","family":"Takuva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for HIV and STI, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, South Africa"},{"name":"Perinatal HIV Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2016,2,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-0956462416636727","unstructured":"The global elimination of congenital syphilis: rationale and strategy for action.\n                      Geneva. World Health Organization\n                      , http:\/\/www.who.int\/reproductivehealth\/publications\/rtis\/9789241595858\/index.htmi (2007, accessed 25 June 2015)."},{"key":"bibr2-0956462416636727","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.1001396"},{"key":"bibr3-0956462416636727","unstructured":"Department of Health Guidelines for Maternity Care in South Africa \u2013 A Manual for Clinics, Community Health Centres and District Hospitals. 2nd ed. http:\/\/healthweb.kznhealth.gov.za\/maternityguidelines.pdf (2002, accessed 10 November 2015)."},{"key":"bibr4-0956462416636727","unstructured":"Mullick S, Beksinksa M and Msomi S. Treatment for syphilis in antenatal care: compliance with the three dose standard regimen, http:\/\/www.sti.bmjjournals.com (accessed 20 September 2013)."},{"key":"bibr5-0956462416636727","unstructured":"Dinh TH, Lewis D, Trege L, et\u00a0al.\n                      Prevalence of and adherence to HIV prophylaxis and syphilis treatment regimenin pregnant women receiving antenatal care services in public facilities in Northern Cape and Gauteng Provinces, South Africa, 2004\u20132006\n                      . [Poster Presentation]. HIV\/AIDS Implementers' Meeting: 3\u20137 June 2008, Kampala, Uganda."},{"key":"bibr6-0956462416636727","unstructured":"The use of rapid syphilis tests\n                      . The sexually transmitted diseases diagnostic Initiative\/World Health Organization, 2006."},{"key":"bibr7-0956462416636727","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1155\/2010\/312798"},{"key":"bibr8-0956462416636727","unstructured":"National Department of Health SA. The 2011 National Antenatal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence Survey in South Africa.\n                      National Department of Health, South Africa,\n                      2012."},{"key":"bibr9-0956462416636727","unstructured":"Census 2011: Census in brief.\n                      Statistics South Africa, Pretoria,\n                      2012."},{"key":"bibr10-0956462416636727","unstructured":"Sexually Transmitted Infections Management Guidelines 2015. Adapted from: Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Drug List PHC.\n                      National Department of Health, South Africa\n                      ."},{"key":"bibr11-0956462416636727","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7196\/SAMJ.7598"},{"key":"bibr12-0956462416636727","volume-title":"Sexually transmitted infection disease surveillance, 2012","author":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention","year":"2014"},{"key":"bibr13-0956462416636727","unstructured":"Goga AE, Dinh T and Jackson DJ; for the SAPMTCTE study group.\n                      Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the National Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Programme Measured at Six Weeks Postpartum in South Africa, 2010\n                      . South African Medical Research Council, National Department of Health of South Africa and PEPFAR\/US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012."},{"key":"bibr14-0956462416636727","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dihn TH, Kamb M, Msimang V, et\u00a0al. Integration of preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis testing and treatment in antenatal catre services in the Northern Cape and Gauteng Provinces, South Africa.\n                      Sex Transmitted Dis\n                      , 2013; 40: 846\u2013851.","DOI":"10.1097\/OLQ.0000000000000042"},{"key":"bibr15-0956462416636727","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Creek TL, Thuku H, Kolou B, Declining syphilis prevalence in pregnant women in northern Botswana: an encouraging sign for HIV prevention?\n                      Sex Transm Infect\n                      . 2005; 81: 453\u2013455.","DOI":"10.1136\/sti.2004.014068"},{"key":"bibr16-0956462416636727","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/095646249901000609"},{"key":"bibr17-0956462416636727","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.srhc.2010.08.006"},{"key":"bibr18-0956462416636727","unstructured":"Abou-Zahr CH and Wardlaw TM.\n                      Antenatal care in developing countries: promises, achievements and missed opportunities. Analysis of trends, levels and differentials, 1990\u20132001\n                      . Geneva, World Health Organization, 2003."},{"key":"bibr19-0956462416636727","unstructured":"National Department of Health, Medical Research Council.\n                      South African Demographic and Health Survey 2003\n                      . Pretoria, 2007."},{"key":"bibr20-0956462416636727","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/sim.4780050604"},{"key":"bibr21-0956462416636727","volume-title":"District Health Barometer 2013\/14","author":"Massyn N","year":"2014"},{"key":"bibr22-0956462416636727","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/01.olq.0000216029.00424.ae"}],"container-title":["International Journal of STD &amp; AIDS"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/0956462416636727","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/0956462416636727","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/0956462416636727","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,1]],"date-time":"2026-05-01T22:35:59Z","timestamp":1777674959000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/0956462416636727"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2016,2,27]]},"references-count":22,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,5]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1177\/0956462416636727"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0956462416636727","relation":{},"ISSN":["0956-4624","1758-1052"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0956-4624","type":"print"},{"value":"1758-1052","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2016,2,27]]}}}