title: Refugee and migrant women's views of antenatal ultrasound on the Thai Burmese border: a mixed methods study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antenatal ultrasound suits developing countries by virtue of its versatility, relatively low cost and safety, but little is known about women's or local provider's perspectives of this upcoming technology in such settings. This study was undertaken to better understand how routine obstetric ultrasound is experienced in a displaced Burmese population and identify barriers to its acceptance by local patients and providers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Qualitative (30 observations, 19 interviews, seven focus group discussions) and quantitative methods (questionnaire survey with 644 pregnant women) were used to provide a comprehensive understanding along four major themes: safety, emotions, information and communication, and unintended consequences of antenatal ultrasound in refugee and migrant clinics on the Thai Burmese border. One of the main concerns expressed by women was the danger of childbirth which they mainly attributed to fetal malposition. Both providers and patients recognized ultrasound as a technology improving the safety of pregnancy and delivery. A minority of patients experienced transitory shyness or anxiety before the ultrasound, but reported that these feelings could be ameliorated with improved patient information and staff communication. Unintended consequences of overuse and gender selective abortions in this population were not common.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study are being used to improve local practice and allow development of explanatory materials for this population with low literacy. We strongly encourage facilities introducing new technology in resource poor settings to assess acceptability through similar inquiry.
authors.affiliation: Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand.
authors.forename: Marcus J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rijken
authors.forename: Mary Ellen
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gilder
authors.forename: May Myo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Thwin
authors.forename: Honey Moon
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ladda Kajeechewa
authors.forename: Jacher
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiladphaingern
authors.forename: Khin Maung
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lwin
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nosten
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McGready
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D002052:Myanmar; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D055815:Young Adult