Mississippi’s syphilis rates are among the highest in the nation, and as a result, the state’s largest public hospital will be accepting $1 million from the federal government this month to help combat this issue.
Syphilis rates in Mississippi are a cause for concern, with the state ranking sixth in the nation for overall cases and fourth for congenital cases. This type of syphilis occurs when a mother passes the infection to her baby during pregnancy, highlighting the need for increased awareness and prevention efforts.
According to the latest available data, rates in Mississippi have seen a rapid increase in recent years.
Dr. Thomas Dobbs, the dean of the John D. Bower School of Population Health at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, stated in a press release that the issue of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is a problem across the country, but it is particularly concerning in their area. Additionally, due to the pandemic, the detection and reporting of STIs have significantly decreased, which may result in higher STI numbers than reported.
According to a press release, UMMC, which is the only academic medical center in the state, plans to utilize the grant to initiate a year-long campaign that aims to raise awareness about syphilis, encourage testing and treatment, and focus on preventing the disease during pregnancy.
Dobbs pointed out that the ongoing surge in cases is not only due to reduced condom use and less screening during the pandemic but also because of limited access to healthcare.
Access to healthcare is a widespread issue in Mississippi, which happens to be the poorest state in the country and has some of the worst health metrics. The availability of care is hindered by provider shortages and a significant number of uninsured individuals.
Over half of the counties in Mississippi are categorized as maternity care deserts, indicating a lack of obstetric care hospitals, certified nurse midwives, and OB-GYNs. Despite the presence of healthcare facilities, the cost of care is often prohibitive. The health care “coverage gap” affects tens of thousands of Mississippians from the working-class, who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid under the state’s current eligibility criteria but cannot afford private insurance from the marketplace.
In the past 10 years since the Affordable Care Act gave states the option to expand Medicaid, Mississippi has remained one of the 10 states that chose not to do so. Recently, a bill that aimed to change this was introduced in the Legislature, but unfortunately, it failed to pass due to partisan politics.
To enhance the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, the teaching hospital has planned to collaborate with clinics and community-based organizations. In addition to this, it has also partnered with the State Health Department to ensure the completion of treatment for patients and partner tracing.
In a recent press release, Dr. Victor Sutton, the chief of community health and clinical services at the Mississippi State Department of Health, expressed concern over the increasing number of syphilis cases statewide. To address this urgent public health threat, the MSDH has partnered with the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s John D. Bower School of Population Health. Together, they have established a Syphilis Task Force that will focus on data collection, provider and community education, and ensuring that affected individuals receive proper testing and treatment.
Treating syphilis during the early stages of pregnancy can prevent the transmission of the infection to the baby. A single course of antibiotics is all it takes to safeguard the child’s health. In cases where the mother’s syphilis was left untreated, up to 40% of newborns are at risk of mortality.
In 2023, the State Board of Health implemented an emergency order mandating physicians to conduct syphilis testing on all pregnant women. This order remains in effect to this day.
According to Dobbs, the grant will enable them to increase testing, not just during pregnancy but also outside of it. This is part of the new initiative they are implementing.
According to the press release, Dobbs, the former State Health Officer, stated that their emergency room physicians have been at the forefront of implementing preventive health measures in ERs, particularly with regards to HIV and Hepatitis C. He also mentioned that the promotion of universal syphilis screening in ERs has been a significant topic of discussion among professional associations on a national level.