Estimating Gestational Age by Symphysis Fundal Height, Last Normal Menstrual period and Parameters of Ultrasound in Third Trimester Pregnancy at Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2016-12
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
INTRODUCTUION: Gestational age is the age of the unborn baby. The accurate
knowledge of gestational age is the key for appropriate interpretation of antenatal test
and effective planning for intervention or treatments.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of estimating gestational age by symphysis fundal
height (SFH) , last normal menstrual period (LNMP) and Ultrasound (US )measurements
during third trimester pregnancy.
METHODS AND MATERIALS: Hospital based cross sectional study was carried out
from June 9, 2016 – October 20, 2016 in radiology unit of Gandhi Memorial Hospital.
Estimated gestational age was taken from 182 women of third trimester by LNMP, SFH
and four parameter of ultrasound; femur length (FL), biparietal diameter (BPD), head
circumference (HC) and abdominal circumference (AC). Data was analyzed using SPSS
version 21 computer program. The mean difference among different methods was tested
for significance using paired t-test. Correlations among measurements were tested. P-
values less than 0.05 were taken as statistically significant.
RESULT: The mean gestational age of pregnancy by recalled LNMP was 36.35 weeks
with standard deviation of 3.35 weeks. The mean gestational age by the parameters of
ultrasound scan done by FL was 36.64 weeks, BPD was 36.57 weeks, HC was 34.01
weeks, and AC was 33.94 weeks. The mean gestational age by SFH measurement was
34.88 weeks. The mean gestational age estimated by all three methods; SFH, LNMP and
US measurements had statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05). SFH estimate had
only 0.39 week difference from estimate by composite of FL, BPD, HC and AC. FL and
BPD had stronger correlation than HC and AC with composite US measurements. SFH
had stronger correlation with all ultrasound measurement than LNMP.
CONCLUSION: SFH was better method to estimate gestational age than LNMP. The
BPD and FL were more accurate measurement followed by AC and HC during third trimester in comparison with composite US measurement
Key words: Gestational age; Symphysis fundal height; Ultrasound parameters; Third trimester
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Keywords
Gestational age; Symphysis fundal height; Ultrasound parameters; Third trimester