Use of antenatal care services in a controlled ultrasound screening trial.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether systematically organized ultrasound screening would have an effect on the uptake of antenatal care services.


METHODS
A total of 9310 women were randomised to an ultrasound screening (4691) or to a control (4619) group. The screening group had an ultrasound examination between the 16th and 20th week of gestation, but otherwise both groups had identical antenatal care.


RESULTS
Antenatal outpatient clinic visits were significantly fewer (2.3 compared to 2.6, p < 0.0001) in the screening group. On the other hand women in the screening group had more visits to maternal health centers than those in the control group (12.9 compared to 12.6, p < 0.0001). No difference was noted between the groups with respect to days in hospital, rest at home on sick leave and visits for medical check-ups.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound screening reduced the need for specialist services and increased the use of basic maternal health care services.
Saari-Kemppainen
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First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal