title: Utilisation of obstetric sonography at a peri-urban health centre in Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal mortality is related to obstetric complications in pregnancy some of which could be revealed by obstetric sonography. Obstetric sonography has become part of routine antenatal care in both urban and rural settings. The objective of the study was to assess the utilization of obstetric sonography in a rural hospital of Uganda, including the frequency and appropriateness of its usage as well as determine whether there was any relation between number of obstetric scans, patient management and obstetric outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a retrospective study in which review of all obstetric charts and obstetric scan requisition forms for all deliveries in Ndejje Health Centre (Uganda) was done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, there were 105 singleton deliveries, and these mothers underwent a total of 232 obstetric scans. More than half (53.4%) of the scans were classified as inappropriate. There were no significant differences in the number of scans between low- and high-risk pregnancies or between uncomplicated deliveries and those in which induction or instrumental or operative delivery occurred, nor was there any relation between number of scans and obstetric outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obstetric sonography has become popular in rural health settings as part of antenatal care. However, it was over-used in the health centre. This overuse was not associated with any identifiable effect on obstetric outcome. Therefore, more appropriate use of obstetric sonography, in accordance with evidence-based guidelines, is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Radiology department, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Mubuuke Aloysius
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gonzaga
authors.forename: Elsie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kiguli-Malwadde
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Businge
authors.forename: Rosemary Kusaba
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Byanyima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D014454:Uganda; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult