Effect of income on fetal biometry by ultrasound

Abstract

Objective: To compare gestational age corrected fetal biometry among rich and poor women.Methods: An ultrasound database from August 2000 to January 2001 was used for the purpose of this study. One hundred and seventy‐five patients with certain menstrual history were included. Patient's income was assigned based on their report during the initial evaluation. There were 137 rich and 38 poor women. All data were enter into Statistix 7.0 statistical package, and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Probability values less than 5% were considered significant.Results: Multiple regression analysis using a second‐order model for gestational age a S function of fetal biometry, income, and fetal biometry–income interaction did not show income to alter the relationship between gestational age and fetal biometry except for femur lengths. Ninety‐five percent prediction intervals for gestational age did not show clinically significant difference between rich and poor.Conclusion: There does not appear to be a significant difference in ultrasound measured fetal biometry among different income groups.