Gulu City, Uganda: More than half of pregnant women attending antenatal care at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital are now utilizing antenatal ultrasound scans, a new study has revealed, marking significant progress in maternal healthcare in northern Uganda.
The findings were presented during the First Gulu Regional Referral Hospital and Third Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Uganda (AOGU), Northern Chapter Scientific Conference, held at Bomah Hotel in Gulu City from July 9 to 10, 2026.
The research found that 56.4 percent of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital undergo antenatal ultrasound scans (AUS), a figure substantially higher than Uganda’s national utilization rate of approximately 30 percent, according to the Ministry of Health.
Lead researcher Dr. Byron Awekonimungu, a specialist in health systems strengthening, said the study was conducted jointly with Dr. Christine Nalungi to assess the utilization of antenatal ultrasound services and identify factors influencing their uptake among expectant mothers.
“Our study found that 56.4 percent of pregnant women attending antenatal care at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital utilize antenatal ultrasound scans, which is significantly higher than the current national average of 30 percent,” Dr. Awekonimungu said while presenting the findings.
The cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2023 and March 2024 and involved 374 randomly selected pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at the regional referral hospital. Researchers used structured questionnaires under the academic guidance of Gulu University and Gulu Regional Referral Hospital.
Dr. Awekonimungu explained that the research sought to generate evidence on antenatal ultrasound utilization in northern Uganda, where limited data has previously been available despite the technology’s critical role in detecting pregnancy complications, monitoring fetal development and guiding clinical decision-making.
The study found that several factors influence whether pregnant women undergo ultrasound examinations during pregnancy.
Researchers identified maternal age, awareness of the importance of ultrasound scans, and support from spouses and family members as key determinants of utilization.
Women aged between 30 and 40 years, as well as those above 40 years, were more likely to undergo ultrasound scans, largely because many believed pregnancies at older ages carried higher risks of complications.
However, researchers cautioned that advanced maternal age alone does not necessarily mean every pregnancy will experience complications.
Despite the encouraging findings, the study also exposed significant disparities between urban and rural populations.
Researchers found that women living in rural communities continue to face barriers to accessing ultrasound services, with many seeking scans only after developing serious pregnancy complications.
The researchers concluded that approximately six out of every 10 pregnant women attending antenatal care at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital utilize antenatal ultrasound services, while uptake remains considerably lower in rural settings due to limited access to equipment and services.
To improve maternal healthcare outcomes, the study recommends centralized training for midwives to strengthen antenatal care education, expansion and operationalization of ultrasound technology in lower-level health facilities, particularly rural health centres, and conducting multicentre studies across northern Uganda to better understand regional trends in ultrasound utilization.
The research was supervised by Dr. Felix Bongomin and Dr. Jimmy Opee, both lecturers at the Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University.
Health experts say increasing access to antenatal ultrasound services is critical in reducing preventable maternal and neonatal complications by enabling early diagnosis of high-risk pregnancies and timely referral for specialized care.
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