Factors influencing complete treatment in patients having syphilis and their partners in a tertiary care hospital - A cross sectional study

Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It remains a significant public health concern, particularly due to its resurgence globally. This study investigates the factors influencing treatment completion among patients with syphilis and their partners in a tertiary care hospital. This also highlights the critical role of early diagnosis and treatment adherence. A cross-sectional study was conducted at college from August 2022 to August 2023. It involved 57 patients diagnosed with syphilis via the Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test. Data collection included socio-demographic details, sexual history, and clinical examination. Treatment adherence was categorized as complete or incomplete based on predefined criteria. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to analyze factors influencing treatment outcomes. Of the 57 participants, 39 had completed treatment. While 11 had incomplete treatment and 7 were untreated. Significant factors influencing treatment adherence included occupation (p=0.049) and distance from the hospital (p=0.033). High-risk behaviors, such as promiscuity (40.4%) and a history of alcoholism (29.8%), were associated with incomplete treatment (p=0.050, p=0.036). Non compliance reasons included fear of disclosing infidelity (28.7%) and reluctance to seek treatment (28.7%). This study depicts the multifaceted challenges in achieving complete treatment for syphilis, influenced by socio-demographic factors and high-risk behaviors. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions, including enhanced counseling, partner notification strategies, and community awareness campaigns to improve treatment outcomes and reduce syphilis transmission.