[Prenatal screening for major fetal heart defects by training sonographers in township hospitals and county health centers: a feasibility study].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of screening for major fetal heart disease by training sonographers in township or county level hospitals.

Methods: Training of B ultrasound scan for congenital heart defects was given to the sonographers from one county hospital, and thirteen township hospitals (or the district hospitals), and training of fetal echocardiography was given to sonographers from four city/county hospitals. The trained sonographers who had passed the examinations and had obtained qualifications after six months of independent practice began to screen fetal congenital heart defects.