Transvaginal ultrasonography: A survey of the acceptability and its predictors among a native African women population

Abstract

Objective: To determine the acceptability of transvaginal ultrasonography (TVU) and associatedfactors among Nigerian women.Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 3137 women who presented fortransabdominal ultrasound scan between August and November 2010 in two referral hospitals inNigeria. Data were obtained using a questionnaire. Descriptive and multivariate analysis was performedapplying logistic regression analysis; predictors of willingness of participants regarding transvaginalultrasound were identified using SPSS Statistics (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL) version 17 software.Results: The mean age of the women was 33.8 years (standard deviation = 7.9), with 88.8%currently married. About 84% were willing to have TVU, while 54.2% were indifferent aboutthe gender of the sonologist. About 17.3% believed that the procedure is painful. Significantpredictors of willingness to have TVU were previous sexual experience and douching, priorpainful vaginal examination, and vaginal surgery.Conclusion: The majority of Nigerian women expressed a willingness to have the TVU procedurewithout necessarily opting for any gender preference of the operator. Women shouldbe adequately counseled on the operations of the procedure so as to be able to psychologicallyprepare for them. © 2012 Atalabi et al.