WHO country data on STIs

For the first time, country-level STI data are available through the WHO Global Health Observatory. This data are reported by countries to WHO. Below are the currently available indicators.

• Testing of antenatal care attendees for syphilis
  Data, interactive graph, static map
• Sex workers and syphilis
  Data, interactive graph, static map
• Men who have sex with men and syphilis
  Data, interactive graph, static map

Syphilis affects large numbers of pregnant women worldwide, causing serious health problems and even death to their babies. One study estimates the percentage of pregnant women tested for syphilis and adequately treated, ranges from 30% for Africa and the Mediterranean region to 70% for Europe. Another study suggests that, unless testing and treatment of syphilis in pregnancy are universally available, over half of pregnancies in women with syphilis will result in an adverse outcome.

• View all recent WHO studies on syphilis in pregnancy

Impact of syphilis in pregnancy
WHO estimates 2 million pregnant women each year are infected with syphilis globally. Pregnant women who are infected with syphilis can transmit the infection to their fetus, causing congenital syphilis. Without treatment, approximately 1.2 million of these pregnant women will transmit the infection to their newborn, who may be stillborn, born early, born with a low birth weight, or congenitally infected as a result.

• More about congenital syphilis