Prenatal syphilis screening mandates and maternal syphilis case detection

This cross-sectional study evaluates the impact of expanded prenatal syphilis screening mandates requiring testing in the third trimester and at delivery across U.S. states. Using data from 16.3 million live births between 2012 and 2022, the authors find that mandates increased maternal syphilis case detection by about 26% immediately after implementation, but the effect diminished within a year. The findings suggest that while expanded screening laws can improve short-term detection, sustained impact requires complementary measures such as improved access to care, adherence to screening protocols, and treatment completion.