Ultrasonographic Assessment of Amniotic Fluid Index in Normal Singleton Pregnancy among Igbo Women, South-Eastern Nigeria

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the mean Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI) and the upper and lower limits of normal value of AFI among Igbo women of South-Eastern Nigeria carrying uncomplicated singleton pregnancy at various gestational ages.

Study Design: A cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Obstetrics and Gynecology department of St Elizabeth Specialist Hospital, Owerri, Imo State from Jan 31 to Dec 31, 2015.

Methodology: This is a prospective cross sectional study of 400 women carrying uncomplicated singleton pregnancies. The AFI was obtained with the patient in the supine position and measurement of the largest vertical pocket of Amniotic fluids in the four quadrants done with abdominal probe. The AFI is the sum of these four quadrants.

Results: The age range of the women was 16-42 years with a mean age of 28.0 ± 4.8 years. The gestational age of the pregnancies was between 14 -42 weeks. The mean and median of AFI appear similar at 15.3 ± 5.6cm and 15.1cm respectively. The mean AFI for preterm was also similar to the total mean AFI with a value of 15.6 ± 5.7cm. The 5th percentile was 5.2cm while the 95th percentile was 25.3cm. The weekly AFI rose from 14 weeks gestation to a peak of 20.1 cm ± 4.5cm at a GA of 22 weeks.

Conclusion: The range of AFI among Igbo women of South-Eastern Nigeria extraction conforms to other internationally accepted ranges.