Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection, can be cured with a simple dose of penicillin. Africa carries the largest burden globally, accounting for more than half of maternal syphilis cases worldwide, as well as the majority of congenital infections passed from mother to child. The study’s title reflects what many women expressed: marriage does not necessarily protect women from infection. Some women also said they worried about being judged or shamed, particularly because syphilis is sexually transmitted. Syphilis may be easy to cure — but for many women, the path to treatment is not.
