Obstetric Ultrasonography Beliefs, Expectations, and Experiences among Women Attending a Tertiary Healthcare Center in North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: In this era of reproductive health-rights, evidence-based medicine, and universal access to ultrasonography services, pregnant women's opinions must be documented because they are the primary stakeholders in obstetric ultrasonography. Aim: We aim at assessing obstetric ultrasonography beliefs, expectations, and experiences among women attending a tertiary healthcare centre in north-central Nigeria. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 pregnant women who had obstetric ultrasound at Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi, between May 2022 and May 2023. The data consisted of 36 items assessing women`s sociodemographics and obstetric ultrasonography beliefs, expectations, and experiences. Data was entered into SPSS version 23 and Microsoft Excel 2017 for statistical analysis with P-value set at<0.05. Frequency tables were used to present data for categorical variables, while means and standard deviations were used to present data for quantitative variables. Results: There was 100.0% response rate. Most, 239(95.6%) women had good beliefs regarding obstetric ultrasonography. Expectations were high among 217(86.8%) women that obstetric ultrasonography would, at least, confirm pregnancy, fetal gender and gestational age. Majority,216(86.4%) of respondents had positive obstetric ultrasonography experiences, with satisfactory rating of services by 233 (93.2%) others, notwithstanding suggestions for further improvements. There was statistically significant correlation between beliefs versus expectations and satisfaction (P = 0.000, 0.000), as well as satisfaction versus expectations and experiences (P = 0.001, 0.000). Conclusion: Obstetric ultrasonography, which can promote safe-motherhood and reduce maternal and prenatal mortality, was well-received by pregnant Nigerian women, who also had favorable beliefs, expectations and experiences with it. Key words: Beliefs, Expectations, Experiences, Nigeria, Obstetric Ultrasonography, Tertiary Healthcare