Maternal-fetal Rhesus (Rh) factor incompatibility in Arar, northern Saudi Arabia

Authors

  • Raghad Mubarak Aljuhaysh Intern, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Keywords:

Rh negative; Mothers; Arar city; Knowledge; Rh incompatibility; Anti-D immunoglobulin

Abstract

Background and aim: Rh isoimmunization still contributes to the neonatal morbidity and mortality due to non-immunization, 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 issue.

References

Izetbegovic S. Occurrence of ABO and RhD Incompatibility with Rh Negative Mothers. Mater Sociomed.

; 25(4): 255–8. doi: 10.5455/msm.2013.25.255-258. PMID: 24511269, PMCID: PMC3914752.

Mourant AE, Kopec AC, Domaniewska-Sobczak K. The distribution of the human blood groups and other

biochemical polymorphisms. 2nd ed. London: Oxford University Press; 1976.

Nasif Raif E. The incidence of blood groups in Lebanese. Lebanon med j. 2005; 11(6): 346-9.

Hayyawi AH, Suhail HJ, Selman WS. Rh Incompatibility: Prevalence, Knowledge and Attitude for

Premarital Test Couples. Kufa Journal For Nursing Sciences. 2014; 4(3).

Kio JO, Agbede CO, Oroniyi FA. Assessing Expectant Mothers’ Knowledge and Practices Regarding

Maternal-Fetal Blood Incompatibility: Evidence from Ogun State, Nigeria. Greener Journal of

Epidemiology and Public Health. 2016; 4(2): 013-019. doi: 10.15580/GJEPH.2016.2.100216152.

Bondagji NS. Rhesus alloimmunization in pregnancy. A tertiary care center experience in the Western

region of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2011; 32(10): 1039-45. PMID: 22008924.

Bashwari LA, Al-Mulhim AA, Ahmad MS, Ahmed MA. Frequency of ABO blood groups in the Eastern

region of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2001; 22: 1008-12. PMID: 11744976.

Sarhan MA, Saleh KA, Bin-Dajem SM. Distribution of ABO blood groups and Rhesus factor in Southwest

Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2009; 30: 116-9. PMID: 19139784.

Holburn AM, Prior D. The UK national external quality assessment scheme in blood group serology. ABO

and D grouping and antibody screening 1982-1983. Clin Lab Haematol. 1986; 8(3): 243-56. PMID:

Samson AA, Hajara Titilope BA. Prevalence of Rhesus D-negative blood type and the challenges of

Rhesus D immunoprophylaxis among obstetric population in Ogbomoso, Southwestern Nigeria. Annals of

Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 2016; 9(1): 12-5.

Bakare AA, Azeez MA, Agbolade JO. Gene frequencies of ABO and rhesus blood groups and

haemoglobin variants in Ogbomoso, South-West Nigeria. Afr J Biotechnol. 2006; 5(3): 224-9.

Wee WW, Kanagalingam D. The use of anti-D immunoglobulins for rhesus prophylaxis: audit on

knowledge and practices among obstetricians. Singapore Med J. 2009; 50(11): 1054. PMID: 19960158.

Fikree F, Karim MS, Midhet F, Berendes HW. Causes of reproductive age mortality in low socioeconomic

settlements of Karachi. J Pak Med Assoc. 1993; 43: 208-12.

Published

2022-02-12