1 research outputs found
Maternal-fetal Rhesus (Rh) factor incompatibility in Arar, northern Saudi Arabia
Background and aim: Rh isoimmunization still contributes to the neonatal morbidity and mortality due to nonimmunization,
under-immunization, and in rare cases, false Rh typing. The main objective of this study was to
determine the prevalence of Rh incompatibility, mothers’ knowledge about Rh incompatibility, mothers’
knowledge about anti-D immunoglobulin and to show the pregnancy outcome of Rh negative mothers.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Maternity and Children Hospital in Arar city from
November 2016 to May 2017. All pregnant mothers attending the Maternity and Children Hospital for pregnancy
follow up or delivery, during the study period were studied. Data were collected by means of personal interview
with the sampled population using a researcher-made questionnaire covering the needed data. Data were analyzed
by SPSS version 16, using descriptive statistics and Chi-Square test.
Results: Of the studied mothers, 23% were Rh negative. Only 38% of the studied mothers had knowledge about
Rh incompatibility, 68.5% had knowledge about anti-D and 51% had knowledge about time of administration of
anti D. Considering pregnancy outcome; 55% of the delivered babies needed incubation after delivery, 23.3% of
those babies were born to Rh negative mothers. However, 6.7% of the incubated children died after incubation
(47.8% of them belong to Rh negative mothers).
Conclusion: About a quarter of the mothers in the studied population were Rh negative. Mothers had a low level
of knowledge about Rh incompatibility and anti-D immunoglobulin and its administration. Health education
sittings are needed to increase public awareness about this important issu