Prenatal ultrasound: are socially disadvantaged groups afforded equal access?

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of the patterns of ultrasound use during pregnancy for all single live births (n = 2542) delivered at a major teaching hospital in one calendar year. Extent of maternal education was inversely correlated with the probability of receiving a prenatal ultrasound examination (p less than 0.001). Clinic patients were more likely to receive prenatal ultrasound examinations than were private patients (p less than 0.001). Blacks were more likely than whites to receive prenatal ultrasound examinations (p less than 0.001). Short duration of prenatal care, inadequate weight gain during pregnancy, and history of previous pre-term delivery were all associated with an increased probability of receiving a prenatal ultrasound examination (p less than 0.001).