Association between syphilis seroprevalence and age among blood donors in Southern China: an observational study from 2014 to 2017

Wu, Xiaobing; Guan, Yang; Ye, Jianbin; Fu, Hanlin; Zhang, Chunlai; Lan, Lina; Wu, Fengxin; Tang, Fen; Wang, Feng; Cai, Yumao; Yu, Weiye; Feng, Tiejian

This study identified that the overall prevalence of syphilis infection among nearly 400 000 blood donors in 2014-2017 was 370.1 per 100 000, which was higher than that reported in the United States (54.6 per 100 000) and Brazil (135.5 per 100 000), 14, 18 but lower than that reported in Ethiopia (732.4 per 100 000), Cameroon (3976.3 per 100 000), and India (1623.7 per 100 000). [19] [20] [21] The prevalence was similar to that in many cities in mainland China, such as Xi'an (359.6 per 100 000), Urumqi (359.3 per 100 000), and Kunming (381.2 per 100 000). 16, 22 However, unlike some studies using only one method (i.e., ELISA) to confirm the syphilis infection status and report the prevalence, 16, 20, 22, 23 29 Referral, treatment, and follow-up services would be provided to those diagnosed with syphilis. In Shenzhen, more than half of VCT sites are set in community health service centres, where a separate room is arranged for counselling and testing service. However, due to the low awareness of self-testing, older adults rarely positively seek the services.