Congenital syphilis related to primary health care and prenatal care coverage: a spatial analysis, Minas Gerais, 2020-2022.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze variation in congenital syphilis incidence, according to prenatal indicators and primary health care (PHC) coverage in the state of Minas Gerais, between 2020 and 2022.

METHODS

Spatial analysis presented by means of clusters, using the non-hierarchical k-means technique and spatial georeferencing, with secondary data from the Primary Care Health Information System and the Minas Gerais State Health Department Health Surveillance Portal.

RESULTS

Cluster 1 presented lower prenatal indicators (35.5%) and PHC coverage (88.6%), with high congenital syphilis incidence (36.5 cases/1,000 live births). Cluster 2 demonstrated lower incidence of the disease (5.1 cases/1,000 live births) and better PHC (96.5%) and prenatal (57.5%) coverage. Cluster 3 recorded prenatal indicators with low performance (25.7%), adequate PHC coverage (92.2%), and low congenital syphilis incidence (3.21 cases/1,000 live births).

CONCLUSION

Different care behaviors and congenital syphilis incidence were identified between health macro-regions and/or municipalities of Minas Gerais; as such, the study can contribute to the formulation of public policies to address this infection.