Abstract:
Background: Early accurate estimation of gestational age is the most important intervention in pregnancy. Ultrasound between 11 and 13 weeks is most reliable in dating. There is no uniform policy in timing of dating scan in Sri Lanka. Objective: Aim of this study was to find out factors that determine the timely dating scan before 14 weeks in a district general hospital in Sri Lanka. Methods: This was a prospective observational study carried out at District General Hospital in Sri Lanka. A detail history was taken in order to ascertain age, parity, menstrual history, time taken to reach the hospital, distance to the hospital, level of education and gestation at the first booking visit with public health midwife (PMH). We offered dating scans for every pregnant mother before 14 weeks. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of socio-demographic factors and receiving timely dating scan before 14 Weeks. Results:A total 199 women were included for the analysis with a mean age of 26.98 years (SD 5.58). A 190 out of total recruitments (95.5%) were booked with PHM before 14 weeks. A total of 171 (86%) pregnant women received their first scan before 14 weeks. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that only booking before 14 weeks with PMH (Odds ratio 12.272 (95% CI, 4.563-33.000) p<0.000) contributed significantly to receive dating scan before 14 weeks, while maternal age, parity, time taken to reach the hospital, distance to the hospital and mother’s level of education did not. Conclusion: Our study showed it is entirely possible to offer dating scan before 14 weeks even in a peripheral District General Hospital. Moreover, we demonstrated that none other than booking before 14 weeks was determined the dating scan prior to 14 weeks.
