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

Abstract

beneficial by enabling earlier detection and improved management of pregnancy complications [2]. Routine screening may be done in early or late pregnancy, or both. Use of USG early in pregnancy is increasing, but there is limited information about linkage decision-making and impact on expectant women/couples. It is essential to know because globally there has been increasing medicalization of pregnancy [3]. However the awareness and utilization of USG by rural tribal women especially those with extreme poverty are not well known. Material and MethodsAfter approval of ethics committee, which works on the principle of Helsinki Declaration, the study was conducted in tribal communities of 100 villages of rural, hilly and forestry, Melghat of Amravati, Maharashtra, India. In these villages community based mother and child care services were initiated after having created a health facility in one of the villages. Information was collected visiting every 5 th house randomly, minimum 20 preconception women from each village total 2400 and 1040 pregnant women of 15-45 years. Interviews were conducted taking consent using a pretested tool in