Abstract:
Objective: To evaluate how Ghanaian women perceive
the use, and their assessment of the experience, of antenatal
ultrasound scanning.
Design: Cross-sectional study, using intervieweradministered
questionnaire, from 25th February to 16th
April, 2011
Setting: Obstetrics Units of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital,
Accra, University of Ghana Hospital, Legon and
Ga South District Hospital, Weija.
Methods: A total of 337 clients were randomly selected
after delivery and interviewed. Issues addressed
included why women went for antenatal ultrasound,
their knowledge of the uses of ultrasound in pregnancy,
information provided by health care providers, clients’
eagerness to know the sex of their fetuses, and their
overall assessment of the ultrasound scanning experience.
Results: The mean number of scans was 2.2(1.1). Most
were performed on the request of a doctor or midwife;
154(45.7%) were not told the reasons for the request
and 185(54.9%) did not have the results explained to
them. For 239(70.9%) women the sonographer did not
explain the procedure before the examination;
89(26.4%) were allowed to ask questions and
61(18.1%) were allowed to see their fetuses on the
monitor. One hundred and sixty respondents (47.5%)
asked for and were told the sex of their fetuses, with
accuracy at delivery of 86.5%.
Conclusion: Most respondents perceived antenatal
ultrasound as a useful tool. There is lack of information
flow from health care providers to clients concerning
the indications for the ultrasound, the processes involved
and the results of the procedure. Improvements
in these areas are needed to enhance the experience of
antenatal ultrasound among Ghanaian women.