[Routine ultrasonography in obstetric care in Norway, 1994]

The article reports on a national cross-sectional study of the use of ultrasound in obstetrics. Seven of the 65 obstetrical units in the country did not participate. The material consists of information from 1,091 consecutive deliveries in the course of one week. Only 14 of the women (1.3%) had not been examined with ultrasound during pregnancy, 97.8% had had a routine examination before week 20. Most of the women (46%) had had only one examination; the mean number of examinations performed per woman was 2.2. Only three small obstetric units were unable to offer screening to their patients. Approximately 98% of all pregnant women are now offered a routine examination at their local department of obstetrics. The way obstetric ultrasound is practised has become more consistent. Fewer women in this study than in previous studies had more than one examination, and a larger share were screened before week 20. The mean number of examinations performed per woman has not changed since 1988.