OBSTETRIC ULTRASOUND SCAN PRACTICE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MOTHER WHO DELIVERED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS IN ARBA MINCH ZURIA DISTRICT, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA,

Abstract

Background: Obstetric ultrasonography has become an essential part of antenatal care globally, helping reduce maternal and infant mortality by early detection of complications. Despite limited evidence on the practice and associated factors of obstetric ultrasound in parts of Ethiopia, gaps remain in understanding its practice among pregnant women. Objective: This study aimed to assess the practice of and factors associated with obstetric ultrasound scans among mothers who delivered in the last 12 months in Arba Minch Zuria district, Southern Ethiopia. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 606 mothers who delivered in the last 12 months. A pretested and structured face to face interviewer questionnaire was used and Data collection took place from May 10 to June 10, 2024. A simple random sampling method was employed to select participants. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed using binary logistic regression to identify factors associated with the practice of obstetric ultrasound scans. Statistical significance was declared at p-values < 0.05 with 95% CI. Results: Of the 606 mothers, 591 participated (97.5% response rate). The study found that the proportion of obstetric ultrasound scan practice of mothers is 40.6% in their recent pregnancy with (95% CI: 37%-45%) and distance to a health facility offering ultrasound scans was ≤10 kilometers (AOR = 4.575, 95% CI: 2.648, 7.907), history of exposure to obstetric ultrasound scan (AOR=1.891, 95% CI: 1.252-2.856), bad obstetric history (AOR=2.096, 95% CI: 1.072 4.098), history of congenital anomaly birth (AOR=4.396, 95% CI: 2.138-9.038), awareness (AOR=2.455, 95% CI: 1.644-3.666), and attitude (AOR=1.732, 95% CI: 1.150-2.609) are significantly associated factors. Conclusion: This study highlights a concerning gap in the practice of obstetric ultrasound scans among mothers in the Arba Minch Zuria district. This study finding also reveal that distance of health facility that offers obstetric ultrasound scan, previous exposure to obstetric ultrasound scan, having bad obstetric history, having history of congenital anomalies birth, and mothers' awareness and attitudes significantly associated with practice of ultrasound scans.