Observational studyBMC pregnancy and childbirth2022
Impact of aetiological screening of sexually transmitted infections during pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes in South Africa.
Observational study in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- Combined effects of bacterial vaginal colonization and HIV on pregnancy outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Research square · 2026Article
- Impact of antenatal screening for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea on pregnancy outcomes in South African women.BMC infectious diseases · 2026Article
- Assessing N. gonorrhoeae prevalence and testing capacity for new treatment rollout: a scoping review for Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and South Africa.BMC infectious diseases · 2026Article
- Predictors and prevalence of self-reported sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women in East Africa: evidenced by demographic and health surveys.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Article
- Antenatal Screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections to Improve Maternal and Newborn Outcomes: An Update From 11 Low- and Middle-Income Countries.Sexually transmitted diseases · 2025Article
- High incidence of asymptomatic genital tract infections in pregnancy in adolescent girls and young women: need for repeat aetiological screening.Sexually transmitted infections · 2023Article
- Self-reported sexually transmitted infections among adolescent girls and young women in Mali: analysis of prevalence and predictors.BMJ open · 2023Article
- Evaluating the use of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis among pregnant and postpartum adolescent girls and young women in Cape Town, South Africa.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSexually transmitted infections (STIs) during pregnancy may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. STI syndromic management is standard of care in South Africa but has its limitations. We evaluated the impact of diagnosing and treating curable STIs during pregnancy on adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes.
methodsWe combined data from two prospective studies of pregnant women attending public sector antenatal care (ANC) clinics in Tshwane District and Cape Town, South Africa. Pregnant women were enrolled, tested and treated for STIs. We evaluated the association between any STI at the first ANC visit and a composite adverse pregnancy outcome (miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, early neonatal death, or low birthweight) using modified Poisson regression models, stratifying by HIV infection and adjusting for maternal characteristics.
resultsAmong 619 women, 61% (n = 380) were from Tshwane District and 39% (n = 239) from Cape Town; 79% (n = 486) were women living with HIV. The prevalence of any STI was 37% (n = 228); C. trachomatis, 26% (n = 158), T. vaginalis, 18% (n = 120) and N. gonorrhoeae, 6% (n = 40). There were 93% (n = 574) singleton live births, 5% (n = 29) miscarriages and 2% (n = 16) stillbirths. Among the live births, there were 1% (n = 3) neonatal deaths, 7% (n = 35) low birthweight in full-term babies and 10% (n = 62) preterm delivery. There were 24% (n = 146) for the composite adverse pregnancy outcome. Overall, any STI diagnosis and treatment at first ANC visit was not associated with adverse outcomes in women living with HIV (adjusted relative risk (aRR); 1.43, 95% CI: 0.95-2.16) or women without HIV (aRR; 2.11, 95% CI: 0.89-5.01). However, C. trachomatis (aRR; 1.57, 95% CI: 1.04-2.39) and N. gonorrhoeae (aRR; 1.69, 95% CI: 1.09-3.08), were each independently associated with the composite adverse outcome in women living with HIV.
conclusionTreated STIs at the first ANC visit were not associated with adverse pregnancy outcome overall. In women living with HIV, C. trachomatis or N. gonorrhoeae at first ANC were each independently associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. Our results highlights complex interactions between the timing of STI detection and treatment, HIV infection and pregnancy outcomes, which warrants further investigation.
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