Data Collection and Reporting
The authors sought to evaluate compliance with state-mandated third-trimester syphilis testing at a single tertiary hospital in Illinois and to identify disparities in testing. This is a retrospective cohort study of all pregnant individuals who delivered between January 1, 2015, and February 28, 2018, at a large-volume academic center. The study found that despite a decades-old state mandate for third-trimester syphilis screening in this high-prevalence region, third-trimester screening performance was suboptimal. Several demographic characteristics were associated with adherence to screening, suggesting inequity and bias exist in testing practices. It is important to acknowledge that legal statutes do not fully eliminate bias and health disparities.