Magnitude of Red Blood Cell Alloimmunization Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

Maternal red cell alloimmunization occurs when a woman’s immune system becomes sensitive to unfamiliar red blood cell antigens. This leads to the production of alloantibodies, which can have serious implications for the fetus and newborn. However, there is a lack of comprehensive information about the extent of red cell alloimmunization in underdeveloped countries like Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the magnitude of red cell alloimmunization among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from September 01 to November 30, 2022.

Methods

In this institutional-based cross-sectional study, 422 pregnant women were participated and recruited using a systematic random sampling technique. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric history, and other clinical information were collected using structured questionnaires through face-to-face interview. Blood grouping and indirect antihuman globulin tests were performed. The relationship between red cell alloimmunization and the independent variables was determined using the chi-square test. P-value <0.05 was considered statistical significance.

Results

In this study, the blood group distributions among the participants were as follows: O, 177 (41.9%); A, 124 (29.4%); B, 76 (18%); and AB, 45 (3.86%). Among the pregnant women included in the study, a total of 51 (12.08%) were identified as RhD-negative. Out of these RhD-negative women, 5 (9.8%) were found to have developed alloimmunization with red blood cell antigens. Miscarriage and post-partum hemorrhage were found to be important factors associated with the occurrence of red cell alloimmunization in these women.

Conclusion

This study showed that one out of ten pregnant women was alloimmunized. Therefore, antenatal blood grouping and indirect antihuman globulin screening should be performed routinely to manage and minimize the undesirable outcomes of alloimmunization during pregnancy.

Keywords:

• alloimmunization
• pregnant women
• indirect antihuman globulin test

Acknowledgment

We express our sincere gratitude to Wolaita Sodo University for ethical sanctions for this study. Moreover, we place on record our wholehearted thanks to the heads and staff of obstetrics and gynecology, neonatal care unit, and clinical laboratory staff, Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, and those who consented to participate in the study.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to the work that was in the ideation, study design, execution, data collection, analysis, and interpretation processes as well as in the writing, and editing of the manuscript. All authors have agreed on the approval of the final manuscript to be published in the current journal and to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors affirm that they have no conflict of interest for this work.

Additional information

Funding

There is no funding to report.