Sonographic gender determination -Experience in two private health care centres in Enugu, South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Pregnant Nigerian women are usually anxious about the gender of their fetuses. As a sole indication or an addition to other indications, many women presenting for ultrasonography often demand gender determination. Objective: To determine 1.the proportion of pregnant Nigerian women presenting for ultrasonography who request for gender determination 2. the accuracy of ultrasonography in determination of gender. Results: During the period of study (September 2004 to March 2006), 1153 women had obstetric ultrasound examination in the two centres. Three hundred and sixty-four (31.6%) of the women requested for gender determination of their fetuses and had this carried out, all for social reasons. The gestational ages at ultrasound examination ranged from 18 to 38 weeks with a mean of 28.5 ± 5.0 weeks. By 31st of March 2006, 71 of the women had delivered. The genders of 59 (83.1%) fetuses - 33 males and 26 females - were accurately diagnosed. Out of the 42 male fetuses delivered, the gender of 33 (78.6% was accurately diagnosed while out of 39 female fetuses delivered, the gender of 26 (89.7%) was accurately diagnosed. In other words, more male fetuses were diagnosed as females than was the reverse. Gestational age had no significant effect on the overall accuracy of gender determination (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Ultrasonography is not 100% accurate in determining gender. Because of its medico-legal implications, pregnant women seeking for sonographic gender determination ought to be adequately counselled about this.

Keywords

• gender determination
• sonography
• enugu
• nigeria