facilities: Federal Teaching Hospital, Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Niger Clinic, A-4, and Peculiar Clinic. A

total of 430 pregnant women aged 15–45 years were randomly selected and screened using the Venereal Disease

Research Laboratory (VDRL) rapid test strip method. Demographic and clinical information, including age,

gestational stage, symptom presentation, and history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), were obtained via

structured questionnaires. The overall seroprevalence of T. pallidum infection was 3.9% (16/430), with variation

across facilities ranging from 2.0% at Peculiar Clinic to 5.0% at A-4 and Kogi State Specialist Hospital. Women

aged 25–34 years accounted for most positive cases, though differences by age group were not statistically

significant. Seropositivity was higher among women with a history of STIs (26.9-fold increased odds; p<0.001)

compared to those without. All infections were detected in the first and second trimesters, with no cases among

women above 35 years. Facility-level differences were also observed, with lower odds of infection among

Sexually transmitted infection (STIs) have been in existence and recognized as a major global cause of acute

illness, infertility and death with severe medical and psychological consequences for millions of men, women

Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by the organism Treponema pallidum. It is a Gram-negative bacterium

which is spiral in shape. It is an obligate internal parasite which causes syphilis, a chronic human disease. The

species Treponema pallidum has sub-species such as pallidum which causes venereal syphilis, endemicum

causing edemic syphilis, carateum which causes pinta and Treponema pallidum pertenue which causes Yaws

The route of transmission of syphilis is usually through sexual intercourse, although there may be syphilis which

sore which may cause swelling near the lymph nodes and is sub divided into primary, secondary and early latent

syphilis while the late stage of syphilis includes the late latent one and the various form of tertiary syphilis (Brian

If syphilis is left untreated it causes non-itchy skin rashes often on the hand and feet, many people may not

realize these symptoms for years and it may disappear and come back after a while. This may lead to long term

The overall picture in Nigeria about syphilis is unclear as there are no reliable statistics on its prevalence, the

clinical presentation however is based on diminishing number of patients presenting with the symptoms of the

disease at urban hospitals and the rare cases of cardiovascular and neurosyphilis (Buseri et al., 2017). Sexually

transmitted infections are common in many developing countries and are major problem in Africa (Antal et al.,

2018). Testing for syphilis in pregnant women is important because of the potential risk of congenital infection

antenatal clinics, blood banks, and immunization centers. The study population comprised pregnant women

attending antenatal care who gave informed consent, with a total of 430 participants aged 15–45 years recruited

Two millilitres of venous blood were collected from each participant, transferred into sterile EDTA containers,

and centrifuged to separate plasma. Syphilis screening was performed using the Venereal Disease Research

Laboratory (VDRL) rapid test kits (Nanjing Synthgene Medical Technology Co., Ltd., China). The test detects

antibodies (IgA, IgM, IgG) against Treponema pallidum using a double-antigen immunoassay format. Test

procedures followed manufacturer’s instructions, and results were interpreted as positive, negative, or invalid

Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 21, applying the Chi-square test. A p-value < 0.05 was

The overall prevalence of Treponema pallidum across the five antenatal facilities ranged between 2.0–5.0%. The

Kogi State Specialist Hospital and A-4 Clinic recorded the highest positivity (5.0%), while Peculiar Clinic

reported the lowest (2.0%). Such variation may reflect differences in patient demographics, healthcare-seeking

behaviors, and quality of antenatal services offered. Although the overall prevalence appears relatively low, even

minimal syphilis infection during pregnancy remains clinically significant due to the risk of congenital syphilis,

stillbirth, or neonatal death if left untreated (Korenromp et al., 2019; WHO, 2021). These findings emphasize

suggests higher susceptibility among younger women at peak reproductive age. This aligns with studies from

Nigeria and other African regions, which highlight that women aged 20–34 bear the greatest burden of sexually

transmitted infections due to biological vulnerability and higher sexual activity (Egesie et al., 2011; Muvunyi &

Dhont, 2012). The absence of positive cases among women >35 years could also be linked to lower sexual

The distribution of syphilis among pregnant women based on clinical symptoms revealed that not all seropositive

The implications are significant for antenatal care: asymptomatic women who remain undiagnosed pose a risk

of transmitting congenital syphilis to their infants, which can result in stillbirth, neonatal death, or severe

sequelae such as bone deformities and neurological impairment (Korenromp et al., 2019; WHO, 2021). This

highlights the necessity of routine universal serological screening during antenatal visits, rather than a

The present study contributes valuable evidence to the understanding of syphilis epidemiology among pregnant

syphilis, stillbirth, and neonatal mortality. Facility-level variations further suggest disparities in healthcare

In light of these findings, universal syphilis screening at first antenatal contact, prompt treatment with benzathine

penicillin, and strengthened integration of STI services into maternal health programs should be prioritized.

Addressing these gaps will not only reduce maternal morbidity but also contribute significantly to the elimination