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Ali S, Byamugisha J, Kawooya MG, Kakibogo IM, Ainembabazi I, Biira EA, Kagimu AN, Migisa A, Munyakazi M, Kuniha S, Scheele C, Papageorghiou AT, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Rijken MJ. Standardization and quality control of Doppler and fetal biometric ultrasound measurements in low-income setting. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2023; 61:481-487. [PMID: 37011080 DOI: 10.1002/uog.26051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the quality of fetal biometry and pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound measurements in a prospective cohort study in Uganda. METHODS This was an ancillary study of the Ending Preventable Stillbirths by Improving Diagnosis of Babies at Risk (EPID) project, in which women enroled in early pregnancy underwent Doppler and fetal biometric assessment at 32-40 weeks of gestation. Sonographers undertook 6 weeks of training followed by onsite refresher training and audit exercises. A total of 125 images for each of the umbilical artery (UA), fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA), left and right uterine arteries (UtA), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL) were selected randomly from the EPID study database and evaluated independently by two experts in a blinded fashion using objective scoring criteria. Inter-rater agreement was assessed using modified Fleiss' kappa for nominal variables and systematic errors were explored using quantile-quantile (Q-Q) plots. RESULTS For Doppler measurements, 96.8% of the UA images, 84.8% of the MCA images and 93.6% of the right UtA images were classified as of acceptable quality by both reviewers. For fetal biometry, 96.0% of the HC images, 96.0% of the AC images and 88.0% of the FL images were considered acceptable by both reviewers. The kappa values for inter-rater reliability of quality assessment were 0.94 (95% CI, 0.87-0.99) for the UA, 0.71 (95% CI, 0.58-0.82) for the MCA, 0.87 (95% CI, 0.78-0.95) for the right UtA, 0.94 (95% CI, 0.87-0.98) for the HC, 0.93 (95% CI, 0.87-0.98) for the AC and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.66-0.88) for the FL measurements. The Q-Q plots indicated no influence of systematic bias in the measurements. CONCLUSIONS Training local healthcare providers to perform Doppler ultrasound, and implementing quality control systems and audits using objective scoring tools in clinical and research settings, is feasible in low- and middle-income countries. Although we did not assess the impact of in-service retraining offered to practitioners deviating from prescribed standards, such interventions should enhance the quality of ultrasound measurements and should be investigated in future studies. © 2022 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ali
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
- Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute (ECUREI), Mengo Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - J Byamugisha
- School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - M G Kawooya
- Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute (ECUREI), Mengo Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - I M Kakibogo
- Antenatal and Maternity Unit, Kagadi Hospital, Kagadi District, Uganda
| | - I Ainembabazi
- Antenatal and Maternity Unit, Kagadi Hospital, Kagadi District, Uganda
| | | | - A N Kagimu
- Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute (ECUREI), Mengo Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - A Migisa
- Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute (ECUREI), Mengo Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - M Munyakazi
- Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute (ECUREI), Mengo Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - S Kuniha
- Department of Radiology, Mulago Hospital Complex, Kampala, Uganda
| | - C Scheele
- Division of Woman and Baby, Department of Obstetrics, Birth Center Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A T Papageorghiou
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - K Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - M J Rijken
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Division of Woman and Baby, Department of Obstetrics, Birth Center Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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A survey of barriers and facilitators to ultrasound use in low- and middle-income countries. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3322. [PMID: 36849625 PMCID: PMC9969046 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30454-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Point-of-care ultrasound has the potential to help inform assessment, diagnosis, and management of illness in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). To better understand current ultrasound use, barriers and facilitators to use, and perceptions and practices in LMIC, we conducted an anonymous online global survey targeting healthcare providers training and using ultrasound in LMIC. A total of 241 respondents representing 62 countries participated and most were physicians working in publicly-funded urban tertiary hospitals in LMIC. Most had received ultrasound training (78%), reported expertise (65%) and confidence (90%) in ultrasound use, and had access to ultrasound (88%), utilizing ultrasound most commonly for procedures and for evaluations of lungs, heart, and trauma. Access to an ultrasound machine was reported as both the top barrier (17%) and top facilitator (53%); other common barriers included access to education and training, cost, and competition for use and other common facilitators included access to a probe, gel, and electricity, and acceptance by healthcare providers, administrators, and patients. Most (80%) noted ultrasound access was important and 96% agreed that ultrasound improves quality of care and patient outcomes. Improving access to low-cost ultrasound equipment is critical to increasing ultrasound use among those who are trained.
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Ali S, Kawooya MG, Byamugisha J, Kakibogo IM, Biira EA, Kagimu AN, Grobbee DE, Zakus D, Papageorghiou AT, Klipstein-Grobusch K, Rijken MJ. Middle cerebral arterial flow redistribution is an indicator for intrauterine fetal compromise in late pregnancy in low-resource settings: A prospective cohort study. BJOG 2022; 129:1712-1720. [PMID: 35118790 PMCID: PMC9545180 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Objective We aimed to determine the prevalence of abnormal umbilical artery (UA), uterine artery (UtA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) Doppler, and their relationship with adverse perinatal outcomes in women undergoing routine antenatal care in the third trimester. Design Prospective cohort. Setting Kagadi Hospital, Uganda. Population Non‐anomalous singleton pregnancies. Methods Women underwent an early dating ultrasound and a third‐trimester Doppler scan between 32 and 40 weeks of gestation, from 2018 to 2020. We handled missing data using multiple imputation and analysed the data using descriptive methods and a binary logistic regression model. Main outcome measures Composite adverse perinatal outcome (CAPO), perinatal death and stillbirth. Results We included 995 women. The mean gestational age at Doppler scan was 36.9 weeks (SD 1.02 weeks) and 88.9% of the women gave birth in a health facility. About 4.4% and 5.6% of the UA pulsatility index (PI) and UtA PI were above the 95th percentile, whereas 16.4% and 10.4% of the MCA PI and CPR were below the fifth percentile, respectively. Low CPR was strongly associated with stillbirth (OR 4.82, 95% CI 1.09–21.30). CPR and MCA PI below the fifth percentile were independently associated with CAPO; the association with MCA PI was stronger in small‐for‐gestational‐age neonates (OR 3.75, 95% CI 1.18–11.88). Conclusion In late gestation, abnormal UA PI was rare. Fetuses with cerebral blood flow redistribution were at increased risk of stillbirth and perinatal complications. Further studies examining the predictive accuracy and effectiveness of antenatal Doppler ultrasound screening in reducing the risk of perinatal deaths in low‐ and middle‐income countries are warranted. Tweetable abstract Blood flow redistribution to the fetal brain is strongly associated with stillbirths in low‐resource settings. Blood flow redistribution to the fetal brain is strongly associated with stillbirths in low‐resource settings. This article includes Author Insights, a video abstract available at https://vimeo.com/bjogabstracts/authorinsights17115.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Ali
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Michael G Kawooya
- Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute (ECUREI), Mengo Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Josaphat Byamugisha
- School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Isaac M Kakibogo
- Antenatal and Maternity Unit, Kagadi Hospital, Kagadi District, Uganda
| | | | - Adia N Kagimu
- Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute (ECUREI), Mengo Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Diederick E Grobbee
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - David Zakus
- Division of Clinical Public Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aris T Papageorghiou
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Marcus J Rijken
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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