Prevalence and factors associated with failure to perform first trimester ultrasound in the commune of Banikoara in 2020 in Benin

Abstract

 Introduction: Obstetrical ultrasound is an integral part of the prenatal consultation (PNC). Objective: To identify the 
factors associated with not performing ultrasound in the first trimester. 
Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with an analytical aim that took place from January 1 to June 31, 2020 at the Banikoara zone hospital. Pregnant women of the 2nd and 3rd trimester were included. The census was exhaustive and the significance threshold was 5%.

Results: Out of 137 pregnancies registered, 100 were in the 2nd and 3rd trimester (72.99%), 89 of whom accepted to 
participate in the study. The mean age was 31.94 ± 7.14 years with extremes of 15 and 42 years. Of the 89 pregnant women, 53 (59.6%) reported having performed the ultrasound, including 21 (39.6%) in the first trimester, i.e., a prevalence of 76.40% of nonperformance of the ultrasound in the first trimester (68 pregnant women). The reasons given by the 36 pregnant women who did not perform the ultrasound were ignorance in 30 (83.3%). Of the 89 pregnant women, 64 (73%) said they did not know the purpose of the ultrasound. As for the ultrasound in the first trimester, 79 pregnant women (88.8%) did not know its importance.