MATERNAL OBESITY, ULTRASOUND, RADIOGRAPHERS/SONOGRAPHERS, NIGERIA

The rising global prevalence of maternal obesity (MO) poses a significant challenge to antenatal ultrasound imaging, as increased maternal adipose tissue attenuates sound waves, potentially compromising the quality and accuracy of fetal biometric measurements. Despite the acknowledged impact on measurement accuracy, there is a limited understanding of the specific lived experiences and professional practices of the frontline practitioners in Nigeria. This exploratory study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the perceptions, technical challenges, and adaptive practices of radiographers and sonographers when performing obstetric ultrasound examinations on pregnant women with MO in Edo State, Nigeria. A quantitative exploratory study was conducted using structured questionnaires administered to 60 radiographers and sonographers actively performing obstetric scans in various diagnostic centers and hospitals across Edo State. The findings revealed that a majority of participants "sometimes" (46.67%) or "frequently" (38.33%) encounter patients with maternal obesity in their daily practice, confirming this as a routine clinical issue. The study documented their subjective perceptions of poor image quality, specific technical difficulties (such as probe penetration and artifact management), their confidence levels in measurement accuracy, and the diverse strategies and techniques employed to optimize image acquisition. The conclusions underscore the persistent technical and practical challenges faced by sonographers in this region and advocate for the development of tailored scanning protocols and targeted educational programs to better equip practitioners. This will ultimately improve the consistency and quality of antenatal care provided to this vulnerable patient population.