Luntsi G, Ugwu A C, Nkubli F B, Emmanuel R, Ochie K, Nwobi C I
Department of Medical Radiography, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Radiography (Lond). 2021 May;27(2):709-715. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2020.10.010. Epub 2020 Nov 5.
The potential benefits and challenges of achieving universal access to obstetric ultrasound services in resource constrained settings were reviewed, with a view to making some recommendations to address the huge burden of avoidable maternal and child morbidity and mortality.
In most resource-poor settings of the world, antenatal ultrasound is available only to a privileged few in urban centres, while the majority of the population living in rural areas have little or no access to diagnostic imaging services. There is also the extreme shortage of sonographers and doctors with specialist training in sonography. A comprehensive regulation must be put in place to achieve maximum benefits and to ensure quality assurance; appropriate use and application of ethics and training must be comprehensive.
Ultrasound service provision, in resource-scarce settings, has the potential to improve access and quality of health care services in areas like the point of care ultrasound service provision and in the fields of obstetrics and gynaecology. A comprehensive regulation must be put in place to achieve maximum benefits and to ensure quality assurance.
Making ultrasound technology available and affordable in resource scare settings has the potential to improve access to diagnostic imaging services and reduce avoidable maternal and child death in resource constrained settings.
回顾在资源有限的环境中实现普遍获得产科超声服务的潜在益处和挑战，以期提出一些建议，以应对可避免的孕产妇和儿童发病及死亡的巨大负担。
在世界上大多数资源匮乏的地区，产前超声仅在城市中心的少数特权人群中可用，而大多数农村地区的人口很少或根本无法获得诊断成像服务。此外，接受过超声检查专业培训的超声医师和医生极度短缺。必须制定全面的监管措施，以实现最大效益并确保质量保证；道德规范和培训的适当使用及应用必须全面。
在资源稀缺的环境中提供超声服务，有可能改善诸如即时超声服务提供以及妇产科领域等医疗保健服务的可及性和质量。必须制定全面的监管措施，以实现最大效益并确保质量保证。
在资源稀缺的环境中使超声技术可用且价格可承受，有可能改善诊断成像服务的可及性，并减少资源有限环境中可避免的孕产妇和儿童死亡。
