KNOWLEDGE, UPTAKE OF OBSTETRIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PRENATAL WOMEN ATTENDING SURULERE (RANDLE) GENERAL HOSPITAL, SURULERE, LAGOS STATE

ABSTRACT

The research study was carried out to assess the knowledge, uptake of obstetric ultrasonography (USG) and associated factors among prenatal women in Surulere General Hospital, Lagos State. The data required for the study was generated through the use of questionnaires and convenience sampling was used to select the study participants. Questionnaires (325) were administered to prenatal women on clinic days at the general hospital and 95% (307) of adequately completed ones was analysed using SPSS 25.0 and pie chart. From the findings, it was observed that majority of the respondents were married 246(80.1%), 191(62.2%) had given birth 4-6 times, and 114(37.1%) were 41 years and above. More so, 282(91.9%) of prenatal women knew ultrasound was used to determine sex of a baby in pregnancy, 268(87.3%) affirmed it’s used to estimate expected date of delivery (EDD), 190(61.9%) pregnant women used ultrasound scan to know the position of placenta, while 210(68.4%) reported ultrasonography examination used to prevent complications in pregnancy. According to the assessment of knowledge and uptake in obstetric ultrasonography, 227(73.9%) prenatal women showed that they have done obstetric ultrasonography examination before, 273(88.9%) reported they were advised by their doctor to do it, 168(54.7%) used ultrasonography examination to confirm pregnancy, while most of the respondents 198(64.5%) performed the ultrasound scan thrice during their pregnancy. Conclusively, there is a relationship between knowledge and uptake of obstetrics ultrasonography by pregnant women as negligence to do it may lead to complications and mortality of the mother and the foetus. Therefore, prenatal women should be advised to undergo two obstetrics ultrasonography during pregnancy and more advocacies on the knowledge and uptake of obstetric ultrasonography in the society should be encouraged, coupled with training and retraining of health workers or practitioners such as doctors, nurses, sonologists, etc. on obstetric ultrasonography.