Abstract:

Background: Diagnostic ultrasound is a sophisticated electronic technology, which utilises pulses of sound to produce an image. Diagnostic ultrasound examination may be employed in a variety of specific circumstances during pregnancy such as after clinical complications, or where there are concerns about fetal growth. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all pregnant women have one ultrasound scan before 24 weeks of pregnancy . A study was designed to evaluate the knowledge and perception towards early diagnostic ultrasound among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Bugando Medical Center, Mwanza Tanzania.

Objectives: To evaluate knowledge and perception towards early diagnostic ultrasound among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Bugando Medical Center.

Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted where structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected data were entered in the Microsoft Excel and then transferred into SPSS Version20 for further analysis. The results were the presented in tables and charts.

Results: The pregnant women were given a total of 100 questionnaires, with a 100% response rate. The majority, 61% of participants were in the age group of 25-35 years. The knowledge towards early diagnostic ultrasound was found to poor as only 24% of the population reported to be aware on the importances of early while the remaining 76% were unaware on the matter. However, most of the respondents (91%) had positive perception and only 9% had negative perception towards early diagnostic ultrasound due to misconceptions of the harmful effects of ultrasound including cancer development, effect, baby injury.

Conclusion: The study findings showed poor knowledge about early diagnostic ultrasound among pregnant women and positive perception towards these early scans. However, the misconception regarding harmful effects of ultrasound especially cancer concerns and baby injury needs to be addressed through health talks during ANC meetings and encouraging interaction between sonographers and pregnant women.

Recommendation: Since these early obstetric scans are very important in both fetal and maternal monitoring during antenatal care strong policies should be put forward to enhance these diagnostic procedures taken into account among pregnant women. Additionally, there should be education sessions at obstetrics and gynecology clinics which would make women at reproductive age become aware of the importances of early diagnostic (obstetric) ultrasound more earlier even before their conception.