Rhesus D factor (RhD) negative women's experiences with pregnancy: An interpretive description

Area of Science:

• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Immunology
• Qualitative Health Research

Background:

• Rh immune globulin (RhIG) effectively prevents Rhesus D (RhD) alloimmunization.
• Despite established prevention, the lived experiences of RhD negative women during pregnancy remain under-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the pregnancy experiences of RhD negative women.
• To understand their perspectives on RhD alloimmunization prevention.

Main Methods:

• Interpretive Description qualitative approach.
• Semi-structured interviews with 16 RhD negative women in northern British Columbia.
• Two-cycle thematic analysis of interview data.

Main Results:

• Participants reported being uninformed about RhD alloimmunization prevention.
• A strong desire for involvement in decision-making processes was identified.
• Key themes included communication, information-seeking, trust, and patient advocacy.

Conclusions:

• RhD negative women actively seek information to address knowledge gaps regarding RhD alloimmunization.
• Empowering women through shared decision-making and tailored educational tools is crucial.
• Future interventions should focus on developing accessible decision-aids for RhD negative pregnant individuals.