[Prospective evaluation of the knowledge of couples concerning the prenatal screening ultrasound]

Evaluation of the knowledge of couples concerning the prenatal screening ultrasound in order to improve information.

This prospective, observational and comparative study was carried out in three maternal centers: a level III maternity, a level II private maternity, and a private gynecologist's office where prenatal screening ultrasounds were performed between the first of March 2018 and the 31th of April 2018. A questionnaire was given to all pregnant women coming to consult for a prenatal screening ultrasound. It included items on maternal characteristics, pregnancy characteristics, and screening ultrasound.

One hundred and sixty-nine women answered the questionnaire. On the 138 participants who had consulted in the level III maternity, 42 % expected them to study fetal well-being, 38 % growth, and 13 % malformation. Forty-six percent attested to have received a request for consent, as well as information about these ultrasounds. The same is true for the 120 spouses in thelevel III maternity where only 7 % expected a malformation search to be carried out. The number of participants in the type II private maternity and the private gynecologist's office was insufficient.

The information given and received, and the knowledge of couples in this level III maternity about the prenatal screening ultrasound seem to be insufficient. It is therefore important to inform the pregnant women and their spouse by giving consent before the first ultrasound and by a verbal message, simple and clear about what the professional is looking for in order to reduce this discrepancy, and thus prepare the couple in case of announcement of an anomaly.