Investigating the impact of obstetric ultrasound technology on culture of pregnancy management in rural Pakistan

This secondary analysis aims to explore the impact of ultrasound technology on the cultural management of pregnancy in rural Pakistan. Data were drawn from two research projects in Punjab, Pakistan: a mixed-methods study exploring midwives' role in enhancing maternity care access in districts Jhelum and Layyah and a qualitative exploration of maternal health care use in a village in district Chakwal. Data collection methods used in these studies include in-depth interviews with healthcare providers, mothers, fathers, older women, and older men, focus group discussions with these populations, observations in the field sites, and a cross-sectional survey of mothers who had given birth in the preceding two years. A sequential exploratory design was used during data analysis, treating qualitative data as the core and quantitative data as supplementary. Qualitative data were determined by a systematic search for the term ultrasound in all transcripts. A total of 107 transcripts were analyzed in Quirkos through open and axial coding, categorization of these codes, and finally the development of themes from emerging categories. Quantitative survey data were analyzed using Stata 14 through univariate and bivariate analysis to assess sociodemographic characteristics of the sample population, antenatal care usage, provider type, and received antenatal care elements, including obstetric ultrasound and diagnostic tests for the last pregnancy.