syphilis, HIV, and Hepatitis B, gonorrhea is not part of routine screening in the ANC clinics yet.Authors in an article published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, say STIs, particularly during pregnancy, are neglected health issues despite the negative impact on feto-maternal and infant outcomes.According to them, Chlamydia trachomatis and gonorrhoeae are the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections in pregnancy. They said Chlamydia trachomatis and gonorrhoeae are curable but cause significant morbidity if left untreated.“Screening for STIs in pregnancy is necessary, as chlamydial and gonococcal genital infections in women are largely asymptomatic and up to 50 percent of infected pregnant women could be asymptomatic. Women with asymptomatic, untreated STI in pregnancy have 3.3 times higher risk of preterm delivery compared to those that received treatment,” they said.Another maternal health expert who preferred anonymity told PUNCH HealthWise that gonorrhea in pregnancy if left untreated could lead to blindness in children as well as poor development of the baby.The consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist said,” The number one thing is that untreated gonorrhea in pregnancy can cause eye infection in the baby at birth which may lead to blindness. We call it Ophthalmia Neonatorum. The infection also slows the growth of the baby in the womb.”WHO says with over one million STIs occurring daily worldwide, it is vital for countries to tackle this challenge, to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3 on universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services.
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