An epidemiological study of obstetric ultrasound examinations in Denmark 1989–1990

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Abstract
Objective: To provide an epidemiological description of the use of ultrasound in obstetrics in Denmark and to analyse whether screeningper sereduces the mean number of obstetric ultrasound examinations for all pregnant women.Design: Questionnaire study based on hospital records and patient interviews.Setting: AH Danish hospital departments with delivery services (n= 57).Patients: 2268 women who gave birth to a child in a two week period February 1990.Results: The main findings of the study are: 1) Women with an offer of screening had a significantly higher mean number of obstetric ultrasound examinations during pregnancy (1.8) than women without (1.3), no matter at which type of department they had antenatal care and their delivery; 2) 45% of the women without an offer of screening had an ultrasound examination on indication in the interval of 14–20 weeks of gestation ‐ at which time an examination may include what is performed at a screening examination and 3) The study shows great regional variations in the use of ultrasound in obstetrics.Conclusion: The results question the presumption that screeningper sewill reduce the mean number of ultrasound examinations during pregnancy.