Reasons for, and timing of ultrasound requests in pregnant women in Owerri south eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Although ultrasonography is an important investigation in obstetrics not much information is available about its use in developing countries. The study is across sectional questionnaire study of two hundred and fifty pregnant women who presented for ultrasound to the St Elizabeth hospital ultrasound centre between January 1st and June 30th 2010.Most of the patients were aged between 20-29(58%), married (93.2%), had 1-4 children (52.4%), and tertiary education (55.6%). The major indications were determination of fetal well being, dating and viability determination in that order. Most of the patients presented in the third trimester and only 66 (26.4%) presented on or before 22 weeks the ideal time for anomaly scan. It is concluded that physicians should be better educated so that they can refer patients
earlier to benefit maximally from ultrasound scanning. There is also a need for more studies on ultrasound in developing countries.