Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41476200›Full record

ArticleJournal of health, population, and nutrition2025

Epidemiological trends of syphilis and the analysis of knowledge and attitudes of future healthcare professionals on its prevention in the autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia.

Zoran Golušin, Nataša Čapo, Nemanja Maletin, Nikola Denda, Milan Matić, Ljuba Vujanović, Tatjana Roš, Olivera Levakov, Siniša Babović, Mila Crnojević and 3 more

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Article in Journal of health, population, and nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Zoran GolušinFaculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
Nataša ČapoDepartment of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia.
Nemanja MaletinFaculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
Nikola DendaFaculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia. 902018d24@mf.uns.ac.rs.
Milan MatićFaculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
Ljuba VujanovićFaculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
Tatjana RošFaculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
Olivera LevakovFaculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
Siniša BabovićClinic for Eye Diseases, University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia.
Mila CrnojevićFaculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
Svetlana IlićInstitute of Public Health of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia.
Smiljana RajčevićDepartment of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia.
Tihomir DugandžijaDepartment of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesSyphilis remains a growing public health concern, with increasing reported incidence globally. Future healthcare professionals play a key role in prevention, early detection, and education. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological trends of syphilis in the Autonomous Province (AP) Vojvodina and to assess the level of factual knowledge about syphilis and prevention measures, as well as attitudes toward education, stigma, and preventive strategies, among students at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad.

methodsEpidemiological data on syphilis in the AP Vojvodina from 1997 to 2024 were analyzed using annual case numbers, crude incidence rates, age-specific and sex-specific incidence rates, and age-standardized incidence rates calculated by direct standardization to the European standard population. Second, a structured survey was administered to 356 students at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad from December 1 to 30, 2024 to assess their knowledge and attitudes toward syphilis and its prevention.

resultsFrom 1997 to 2024, 1,034 syphilis cases were reported in AP Vojvodina, mostly among individuals aged 25-34. The age-standardized rate of incidence showed a rising trend, peaking in 2023 at 9.33 per 100,000. Among 356 surveyed students (mean age 22.2; 74.4% female), medical students had significantly higher self-assessed knowledge scores compared to students from other health-related study programmes (36.99% vs. 8.03%; p < 0.001). Prior sexually transmitted infections education was strongly associated with better knowledge scores (OR = 5.98; 95% CI: 3.41-10.49; p < 0.001). Most students (60%) cited stigma as a barrier to care, and while 87% supported the need for syphilis education, only 15% felt confident advising patients on prevention.

conclusionsThe increasing syphilis incidence in AP Vojvodina, particularly among young men, mirrors EU trends and highlights a growing public health concern. Despite favourable attitudes, students demonstrated notable knowledge gaps. Targeted education on sexually transmitted infections, with emphasis on practical prevention strategies and counselling skills, is essential to equip future healthcare professionals for effective prevention and stigma reduction, while taking current epidemiological trends into account.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHealth PersonnelSyphilisAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansIncidenceMaleSerbiaSocial StigmaSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultEducationEpidemiologyKnowledge and attitudesPreventionPublic healthStudentsSyphilis

Identifiers

PMID41476200
PMCPMC12781373

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.