[Attitudes and expectations of pregnant women to routine ultrasonography in early pregnancy]. / Gravide kvinders holdninger og forventninger til rutine-UL-scanning tidligt i graviditeten.

INTRODUCTION: More than 90% of pregnant women in Denmark are offered ultrasonography early in pregnancy to detect the viability of the fetus, multiple pregnancy, gestational age, and the locality of the placenta. Few hospitals offer ultrasonography to detect anomalies of the fetus, including chromosome abnormalities. The aim of this investigation was to elucidate the women's wishes and expectations concerning ultrasonography early in the pregnancy and the level of information on what the ultrasonography comprises. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 1996, 1400 questionnaires were consecutively handed out to all pregnant women at their first attendance at the antenatal clinic run by the midwives in the County of Vejle. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: One thousand and fifteen (72.5%) answered the questions anonymously. An overwhelming majority looked at sonography as a huge experience (86.9%), felt more secure about the pregnancy after sonography (80.4%), wished and expected to have a sonography for anomalies (84.3%) and were ready to have an elected abortion should a serious anomaly be detected (67.6%). In most hospitals in Denmark it is not possible to comply with the attitudes and expectations of the pregnant women concerning prenatal care in the form of ultrasonography. A thorough description of what the ultrasonography comprises is mandatory.