Clients' reasons for prenatal ultrasonography in Ibadan, South West of Nigeria

Abstract

BackgroundPrenatal ultrasonography has remained a universal tool but little is known especially from developing countries on clients' reasons for desiring it. Then aim was to determine the reasons why pregnant women will desire a prenatal ultrasound.MethodsIt was a cross-sectional survey of consecutive 222 women at 2 different ultrasonography facilities in Ibadan, South-west Nigeria.ResultsThe mean age of the respondents was 30.1 ± 4.5 years. The commonest reason for requesting for prenatal ultrasound scans was to check for fetal viability in 144 women (64.7%) of the respondents, followed by fetal gender determination in 50 women (22.6%. Other reasons were to check for number of fetuses, fetal age and placental location. Factors such as younger age, artisans profession and low level of education significantly influenced the decision to check for fetal viability on bivariate analysis but all were not significant on multivariate analysis. Concerning fetal gender determination, older age, Christianity, occupation and gravidity were significant on bivariate analysis, however, only gravidity and occupation remained significant independent predictor on logistic regression model. Women with less than 3 previous pregnancies were about 4 times more likely to request for fetal sex determination than women with more than 3 previous pregnancies, (OR 3.8 95%CI 1.52 – 9.44). The professionals were 7 times more likely than the artisans to request to find out about their fetal sex, (OR 7.0 95%CI 1.47 – 333.20).ConclusionThis study shows that Nigerian pregnant women desired prenatal ultrasonography mostly for fetal viability, followed by fetal gender determination. These preferences were influenced by their biosocial variables.

The Ghanaian woman’s experience and perception of ultrasound use in antenatal care

“…This is low when compared to 94.5% reported from Sokoto (Nigeria), and almost a hundred percent from Uganda 4,30 ; however, it is much higher than the 21.6% reported from Nnewi and 22.6% from Ibadan (both in Nigeria). 2,19 In the present study, 86.5% of fetal sex determination was correct at delivery. This is low compared to reported accuracy of 99-100% for second trimester fetuses without malformed external genitalia.…”

“…2,12,18 It is significant to note, however, that whereas in studies in Karachi (Pakistan), Nnewi (Nigeria) and Japan detection of fetal abnormalities feature prominently among the top three uses of ultrasound mentioned by mothers 11,19,20 , in this study detection of fetal anomalies is much further down the order, with only about three percent being aware of it. This may be a reflection of poor knowledge of the occurrence of fetal abnormalities among the women.…”

“…1 Antenatal ultrasound is a safe technology that meets the WHO guidelines for the use of technology (1994) because it is scientifically sound, accessible, affordable and acceptable. 2,3 The use of ultrasound in pregnancy has changed from just listening to fetal heart sounds (sonicaid) to detecting very small fetal morphological defects. Presently, increased sophistication in the ultrasound technology allows mothers to see their fetuses in 3D or 4D reconstruction on monitors and know their sex long before the child is born.…”

“…10,11 Others include checking for fetal viability, fetal sex determination, checking for number of fetuses, determination of gestational age and placental localization. 2,7,11,12 Apart from the many medical benefits of antenatal ultrasound, the procedure is also known to have certain psychological effects. Generally, most mothers are happy when they see their fetuses on the monitor of the ultrasound machine, an indication of the viability of the pregnancy.…”

Ultrasonography awareness among pregnant women attending medical college hospital in Kolhapur District of Maharashtra, India

“…For a pregnant mother, ultrasound is a source of connecting with her baby and there is a belief that it initiates bonding with the baby. 3 For many expectant parents in India, ultrasound is only a tool for sex determination. In spite of media coverage, the Department of Community Medicine, D. Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur -416006, Maharashtra, India knowledge regarding PNDT act among antenatal women in studies from Rajasthan and Mumbai, India were found to be only 52.4% and 34.3% of their study population.…”