Fetal Head Circumference for term pregnancy in Sudanese pregnant women in Ribat University Hospital 2006/2007.

Abstract

This descriptive case study (practical study) was carried out at Ribat University Hospital in ultrasound department and labour room, in the period from October 2006 to February 2007. The study aimed at assessing the performance of head circumference (HC) measurement in predicting gestational age as a predictor of menstrual age, and analysis of HC as an accurate indicator of gestational age (GA) assessment in relation to Bi parietal diameter (BPD) measurement. The study included sixty Sudanese healthy pregnant women, aged between 17 and 40 years old, with different parity from primigravida to Para IX. All investigated as normal single fetus pregnancy, during GA from 38 - 40 weeks. Using Germany siemens sonoline G20 real time U/S machine with convex transducer multi frequency using 3.5 or 5.0 MHz. The study identified that HC measurement is essential method in determining GA in term pregnancy, it is more accurate than BPD measurement in cephalic presentation and in breech presentation. Also the study found that the parity of pregnancy and age of pregnant women had no effect in predicting GA.