Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011:9:36.
doi: 10.4314/pamj.v9i1.71214. Epub 2011 Aug 1.

An exploratory study of the views of Ugandan women and health practitioners on the use of sonography to establish fetal sex

Aloysius Gonzaga Mubuuke  1
Affiliations

An exploratory study of the views of Ugandan women and health practitioners on the use of sonography to establish fetal sex

Aloysius Gonzaga Mubuuke. Pan Afr Med J. 2011.

Abstract

Introduction: Ultrasound is now part of routine care for pregnant women in Uganda, and is one of a range of techniques used in screening during pregnancy. However, it differs from most others screening procedures because it allows women to view their babies. Unfortunately, the recipients of this technology are seldom asked about it. This study aimed at finding out the knowledge, attitudes and practices of pregnant women towards prenatal sonography.

Methods: The study was exploratory and descriptive, using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Thematic analysis was employed.

Results: The health professionals interviewed discouraged the idea of disclosing fetal sex unless it is justifiably indicated for medical reasons. However, the women in this study supported the idea of being told the sex of the baby in order to plan for the necessary items they need.

Conclusion: There is need for a policy to be made not to disclose fetal sex to parents as this raises numerous ethical concerns. Health workers, women and the general public need to be sensitized about the dangers of this practice as well.

Keywords: Fetal sex; Uganda; sonography.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Zechmeister I. Foetal images: the power of visual technology in antenatal care and the implications for women‘s reproductive freedom. Health Care Anal. 2001;9(4):387–400. - PubMed
    1. Vangeenderhuysen C, Abdellahi MB, Isselmou S. Training midwives in developing countries in obstetric ultrasonography: goals and application. J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris) 2002 Feb;31(1):100–6. - PubMed
    1. Kongnyuy EJ, Van den Brock N. The use of ultrasonography in obstetrics in developing countries. Trop Doct. 2007 Apr;37(2):70–2. - PubMed
    1. Williams C, Sandall J, Lewando-Hundt G, Heymann B, Spencer K, Grellier R. Women as moral pioneers? Experiences of first trimester antenatal screening. Soc Sci Med. 2005 Nov;61(9):1983–92. - PubMed
    1. Gammeltoft T, Nguyen HT. The commodification of obstetric ultrasound scanning in Hanoi. Viet Nam.Reprod Health Matters. 2007 May;15(29):163–71. - PubMed

MeSH terms