Stem cell banking: Are South Indian mothers aware?

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is an important source of stem cells, the heart of regenerative medicine. As the globalization and population of the world continues to increase, we are faced with an inundation of new diseases, affecting millions of people. Research work considering stem cells is essential for developing therapy for various conditions. Reduced availability of UCB serves as a hindrance to promote further research. Hence, India being one of the most densely populated countries in the world, can be considered a potential UCB repository. In this study 428 mothers of children born in the period from 2012 to 2017 were asked to fill questionnaires that evaluated their awareness regarding stem cell banking. This investigation deliberates if expectant mothers in this region are aware of stem cell banking and if there is a significant pattern regarding awareness based on parameters like age, educational qualification, locality, annual income and consulted hospitals. Although, majority of the women were unaware of this facility, knowledge was heightened in wealthy, educated, women from urban areas who consulted private hospitals. Hence, great efforts need to be made to further the awareness of expectant mothers in South India regarding UCB storage and donation.