Awareness of Ultrasonography, Preconception during Pregnancy and use of Sonography by Tribal Women -Rural Community based Study

Background: Ultrasonography (USG) has become part of everyday care of pregnant women in most of the countries of the globe. However like any other technology, it has potential to raise social, ethical, economic dilemmas about benefits, challenges for health providers, beneficiaries of the services. Awareness, utilization of USG by rural tribal women who live in extreme poverty with access problems is not well known. Objective: Community based study was carried out to know awareness of USG amongst rural, tribal, preconception, pregnant women and use of USG during pregnancy. Material methods: Study was conducted in tribal communities of 100 villages where community based mother child care services were initiated after having developed a health facility in one of 100 villages. Total 2400 preconception, 1040 pregnant women of 15-45 years, were interviewed in villages for knowing their awareness about USG, whether pregnant women had USG during pregnancy. Results: Of 2400 preconception women, 626 (26.08%) were not aware of sonography. Of those who knew, 694 (39.1%) said sonography helped in confirmation of pregnancy, 1080 (60.88%) said it helped in knowing fetal age and position. Of 1040 pregnant women also 271 (26.1%) were not aware of USG. Those who knew, sources of information, were Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in 208 (27%), nurse midwives in 170 (22.1%), family members in 311 (40.4%), doctors in 80 (10.4%). Only 258 (33.5%) of 769 women who knew about USG had got USG done. Of them 82 (31.8%) were told that something was wrong without any details. Conclusion: Study revealed that many rural tribal women did not even know about USG. Community health workers, ASHAs did create awareness of USG in some. Only 25% pregnant women had USG done but without knowing any details of findings.