[Maternal and congenital syphilis: a persistent challenge].

This descriptive study collected socio-demographic, obstetric, and diagnostic and treatment-related data from pregnant and postpartum women and their partners, for the 67 pregnant or postpartum women reported with syphilis to the National System of Diseases of Notification, users of public maternity hospitals in the Federal District of Brazil from 2009 to 2010. Data on clinical and laboratory follow-up of the newborn were obtained from the hospital patient charts, compulsory notification forms, and Infant Health Cards. Of the pregnant women, 41.8% were adequately treated; the main reason for inadequate treatment was the absence (83.6%) or inadequate treatment of the partner (88.1%). More than a third required repeat treatment at the maternity hospital due to lack of documentation of treatment during the prenatal period. Of the newborns diagnosed with congenital syphilis, 48% received radiographic investigation, 42% received a spinal tap, and 36% failed to receive any kind of intervention. Thus, the quality of prenatal care was insufficient to guarantee the control of congenital syphilis and achieve the goal of reducing incidence of the disease.