Upcoming Webinar: At a Crossroads: The Syndemic of Syphilis, Substance Use, and Child Welfare During Pregnancy, April 16, 2024
Posted April 15, 2024
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy invites you to attend an upcoming webinar, At a Crossroads: The Syndemic of Syphilis, Substance Use, and Child Welfare During Pregnancy Webinar, on April 16, 2024, from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm PST/2:30 pm – 4:00 pm EST.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were over 3,700 cases of congenital syphilis among newborns in 2022, over 10 times the number reported in 2012. Recent studies have also shown that individuals with congenital syphilis pregnancy outcomes had nearly twice the prevalence of substance use compared to those without, with approximately half experiencing late or no prenatal care. When transmitted during pregnancy, syphilis can cause miscarriage, lifelong medical issues, and infant death.
This webinar serves as an opportunity to highlight the need for a syndemic approach to provide more holistic care to people who use substances and are considering pregnancy, pregnant, or postpartum. The webinar will:
- Increase awareness on the syndemic interaction between substance use, syphilis, and policy during pregnancy and postpartum
- Share best practices to provide more holistic prevention, treatment, and care to people who use substances and are considering pregnancy
- Identify policy solutions to address the syndemic of substance use, syphilis, and the challenges in accessing prenatal health care
This work supports the goals of the National Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Syndemic Federal Task Force.
Have questions? Contact Alberto.Pina@hhs.gov
