Assessing the Role of Ultrasound Scanning in Improving Pregnancy Outcomes in Potiskum and Neighboring Rural Communities in Yobe State, Nigeria.

Background Accurate pregnancy dating is vital for timely prenatal interventions that reduce maternal and neonatal risks. In underserved areas such as Potiskum, Yobe State, Nigeria, limited awareness, poor healthcare access, and cultural barriers hinder early pregnancy detection, gestational age estimation, and monitoring. While ultrasound, the gold standard for dating pregnancies, could address these challenges, its impact in these regions remains underexplored. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed five years of data (2019-2023) from the electronic health records (EHRs) of Potiskum Medical Center. The study included 15,862 records of women who resided within a 20-km radius of Potiskum and underwent ultrasound scanning during pregnancy. Descriptive statistics were carried out to understand the characteristics of the study population, and logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between pregnancy outcomes and factors including ultrasound scan frequency, maternal age, educational attainment, socioeconomic status, parity, and marital status. Results The study revealed that women who underwent a first-trimester ultrasound with one or two additional scans had significantly higher odds of improved pregnancy outcomes (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.22-2.46, and AOR = 3.84, 95% CI = 0.34-0.58, respectively, p < 0.0001). In contrast, third-trimester-only scans had lower odds of favorable outcomes (AOR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.31-0.52, p = 0.001). Maternal age was also a significant factor, with younger women (21-30 years) demonstrating the highest odds of favorable outcomes (AOR = 4.24, 95% CI = 0.28-0.86, p < 0.001). Higher educational attainment and socioeconomic status were positively associated with improved outcomes, with tertiary education (AOR = 2.84, 95% CI = 2.96-3.47, p = 0.001) and high income (AOR = 3.84, 95% CI = 3.23-4.06, p < 0.0001) showing the strongest effects. Moderate parity was also associated with better outcomes, while high parity showed weaker odds (AOR = 0.65, 95% CI = 1.28-2.86, p < 0.0001). Conclusion The findings highlight the transformative potential of early and all-trimester ultrasound use in improving pregnancy outcomes in rural communities. Factors such as maternal age, education, socioeconomic status, and parity significantly influence outcomes, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to promote equitable access to quality antenatal care. Addressing these gaps can improve pregnancy outcomes, contributing to global efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality in resource-limited settings. Further research is needed to explore barriers to ultrasound access and develop strategies to enhance antenatal care utilization in underserved regions.