Knowledge, attitude, barriers, and associated factors of obstetric ultrasound among pregnant women in public hospitals, Ethiopia, 2022: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Obstetric ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging modality that uses sound waves to provide a real-time image of the foetus. Women’s knowledge of and attitudes toward ultrasound are suggested to influence their responses, and a variety of barriers also influence their practices. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, barriers, and associated factors of obstetric ultrasound among pregnant women in public hospitals in Addis Ababa. METHODS AND MATERIALS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 422 pregnant women from July to August 2021 using systematic random sampling. A structured questionnaire was employed, entered into Epi Info 7.2, and analysed in SPSS 23. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify associated factors. RESULT: The proportion with good knowledge of obstetric ultrasound was 51.4%, and that with positive attitudes was 70.1%. Women with a degree and above (AOR 2.70; 95% CI 0.21–35.23), government employment (AOR 3.901; 95% CI 1.92–7.90), and previous ultrasound exposure (AOR 1.966; 95% CI 1.24–3.12) were significantly associated with knowledge. Government-employed women (AOR 6.83; 95% CI 2.43–19.18), women with 1000–5000birr in household income (AOR 5.31; 95% CI 2.01–14.03), and women with a history of births with congenital anomalies (AOR 21.07; 95% CI 2.09–21.21) were significantly associated with the attitude toward obstetric ultrasound. Participants in the study expressed a variety of barriers that influenced their practices; long waiting time was the most common (77.3%). CONCLUSION: Pregnant women’s levels of knowledge and attitudes towards obstetric ultrasound were moderately good. However, there were a variety of barriers, including patient privacy, waiting time, handling, and side effects, that influenced the utilisation of ultrasound.