Observational studyPloS one2023
Institutionalization of limited obstetric ultrasound leading to increased antenatal, skilled delivery, and postnatal service utilization in three regions of Ethiopia: A pre-post study.
Observational study in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.
- Approaches, barriers, and facilitators to and strategies for normalizing the provision of ultrasound scanning by midwives in the antenatal clinic.Reproductive health · 2026Article
- Assessing the effectiveness of decentralised antenatal ultrasound in a primary health care clinic compared with a hospital-based service in rural South Africa: an interrupted time series analysis.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
- Barriers to improving preterm newborn outcomes through effective antenatal corticosteroid use in Ethiopia.BMJ global health · 2025Article
- AI-enabled obstetric point-of-care ultrasound as an emerging technology in low- and middle-income countries: provider and health system perspectives.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
- Routine antenatal ultrasound by nurse-midwives in rural Kenya: a pragmatic trial assessing feasibility and effects of theFrontiers in global women's health · 2025Article
- Prenatal ultrasound utilization and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in south Wollo zone public hospitals, north east, Ethiopia, 2023.Frontiers in digital health · 2025Article
- Utilization of Antenatal Care and Skilled Birth Delivery Services in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Scoping Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Article
- Perinatal palliative care in sub-Saharan Africa: recommendations for practice, future research, and guideline development.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
12 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundA minimum of one ultrasound scan is recommended for all pregnant women before the 24th week of gestation. In Ethiopia, there is a shortage of skilled manpower to provide these services. Currently, trained mid-level providers are providing the services at the primary healthcare level. The aims of this study were to compare antenatal care 1 (ANC1), antenatal care 4 (ANC4), skilled birth attendance (SBA), and postnatal care (PNC) service utilization before and after institutionalizing Vscan limited obstetric ultrasounds at semi-urban health centers in Ethiopia.
methodsA pre and post intervention observational study was conducted to investigate maternal and neonatal health service utilization rates before and after institutionalizing Vscan limited obstetric ultrasound services, between July 2016 and June 2020. The data were extracted from 1st August- 31st December 2020.
resultsThe observed monthly increase on the mean rank of first ANC visits after the introduction of Vscan limited obstetric ultrasound services showed a statistically significant difference at KW-ANOVA H (3) = 17.09, P = 0.001. The mean rank of fourth ANC utilization showed a statistically significant difference at KW- ANOVA H (3) = 16.24, P = 0.001. The observed mean rank in skilled birth attendance (SBA) showed a statistically significant positive difference using KW-ANOVA H (3) = 23.6, P<0.001. The mean rank of increased utilization in postnatal care showed a statistically significant difference using KW-ANOVA H (3) = 17.79, P<0.001.
conclusionThe introduction of limited obstetric ultrasound services by trained mid-level providers at the primary healthcare level was found to have improved the utilization of ANC, SBA, and postnatal care (PNC) services. It is recommended that the institutionalization of limited obstetric ultrasound services be scaled up and a further comparative study between facilities with and without ultrasound services be conducted to confirm causality and assess effects on maternal and perinatal outcomes.
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