Indications and Results of Obstetric Ultrasound in 392 Cases at the Fada N'Gourma Regional University Hospital (CHRU)

Introduction: Obstetric ultrasound is an essential tool in prenatal care, enabling the assessment of fetal well-being and the detection of anomalies. In this context, this study aimed to describe the indications and outcomes of obstetric ultrasound at the Fada N'Gourma University Hospital in order to characterize the patterns of use of this examination. Methodology: This was a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from January 1 to March 31, 2026, involving 392 pregnant women who underwent an obstetric ultrasound. Results: The mean age was 27 years, and the mean gestational age was 30 weeks of amenorrhea. The primary indications were pelvic pain (44.13%) and morphological assessment (30.87%). Ultrasound findings showed a predominance of normal pregnancies (95.66%), with cephalic presentation in 86.99% of cases and biometric parameters generally consistent with gestational age. Placental abnormalities were rare (3.82%), and amniotic fluid volume was normal in 91.58% of cases. Conclusion: The lack of early ultrasound screening compromises optimal access to prenatal care and leads to delayed use of this examination, most often in response to clinical symptoms. These results highlight the need to adapt maternal health strategies, particularly by improving access to care and developing innovative approaches for pregnancy monitoring. Keywords: ultrasound, Obstetrics, indications.