Descriptive Study: Compliance of the standards for estimating gestational age during prenatal care in a general hospital in Ecuador.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gestational dating is an important requirement for decision-making during pregnancy; the World Health Organization recommends making the first ultrasound before week 24. Gestational age can also be estimated based on menstrual history. The aim of this study was to describe the rate of compliance of the standards for estimating gestational age in a general hospital in Machala, Ecuador. METHODS: This is an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study; the universe was the total of pregnant women who attended for prenatal care to Hospital General Machala, El Oro- Ecuador, between April 2017 and March 2020. The entire universe was studied. We collected data for the variables: age, parity, last menstrual period( LMP), menstrual age, early ultrasound, reliable gestational dating. RESULTS: 47.9% of the sample was 18 to 29 years old. 83.33% (195/234) patients complied with the weeks of amenorrhea registry. 75.21% (176/234) of patients complied with the recommendation of an early ultrasound, at 24 weeks or less. 1.28% did not have any method of gestational dating. 64% (n=149) of the sample underwent the first ultrasound until week 20. Of 140 patients who complied with having both gestational dating by reliable LMP and ultrasound, in 31/140 (22.1%) the gestational age given by LMP could not be confirmed with early ultrasound. CONCLUSION: We concluded that gestational dating obtained by weeks of amenorrhea was registered n 83.33% of the patients, this rate qualifies as regular compliance. An early ultrasound was performed, at ≤ 24 weeks, as recommended by WHO, in 75% of the patients, this rate qualifies as poor compliance.