1.1 Introduction
According to Acog (2021), the Rh factor is a protein that can be found on the surface of red blood cells. If your blood cells have this protein, you are Rh positive. If your blood cells do not have this protein, you are Rh negative. During pregnancy, problems can occur if you are Rh negative and your fetus is Rh positive. Treatment can be given to prevent these problems (Acog, 2021).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The Rh factor is inherited, meaning it is passed from parent to child through genes. The fetus can inherit the Rh factor from the father or the mother. Most people are Rh positive, meaning they have inherited the Rh factor from either their mother or father. If a fetus does not inherit the Rh factor from either the mother or father, then he or she is Rh negative. When a woman is Rh negative and her fetus is Rh positive, it is called Rh incompatibility (Acog, 2021).
Rhesus D (RhD) antigen alloimmunization has been a focus of concern for hematologists and obstetricians due to its significant contribution to perinatal morbidity and mortality as a consequence of hemolytic disease of the fetus and the newborn (HDFN). Rhesus alloimmunization represents an avoidable direct cause for perinatal morbidity and mortality, so health education sittings are needed to increase the awareness of the public about this important issue (Mollison et al., 2006 and RhD 2000). Screening of pregnant women for blood groups has been well established and widely practiced in the antenatal care clinic. The introduction of anti-D prophylaxis has significantly reduced perinatal deaths from alloimmunization by approximately 100-fold (Kumar et al., 2005 and Nice, 2008). Administration of anti-D immunoglobulin is an effective protective measure in reducing the risk of HDFN (Kumar et al., 2005 and Gajjar et al., 2009). The aim of this study was to assess the awareness of pregnant women toward the clinical importance of blood group Rh(D)-negativity and anti-D immunoglobulin at King Abdulla Hospital in Bisha, Saudi Arabia as well as to determine the prevalence of blood group Rh(D)-negativity among pregnant women in the local population.
The goal of treatment is to stop an Rh-negative woman from making Rh antibodies in the first place. This is done by finding out if you are Rh negative early in pregnancy (or before pregnancy) and, if needed, giving you a medication to prevent antibodies from forming (Acog, 2021).
1.2.1 Brief History of Lens Polytechnic
According to Lenspolytechnic (2021), Lens Polytechnic is a polytechnic incorporated in Nigeria by the same management that owns and runs Lens school of management, Offa which is an innovation enterprise institution. Lens Polytechnic is an expansion from Lens School of Management and Technology.
The school was established on 20th April, 2012. Lens polytechnic was founded by Azeez Yisa Bukola and Abdulazeez Isahq, an educationalist and a banker of high repute, the school was accredited duly by National Board for technical education. The Proprietors have always been concerned with education and had always been disturbed with the situation of Nigeria youth who struggle to get admitted into tertiary institutions but cannot. Another set of concern are those that studied in the tertiary institutions and then find it difficult to get employed. They cannot integrate well into the industry or they cannot start up something on their own because they lack entrepreneurship skills. As part of remedy to all these situations, the Proprietors then decided to establish Lens Polytechnic. The objectives of the school are (Lenspolytechnic, 2021);
- To enroll qualified students and equip them with world class skills and knowledge.
- To train the students to be ethically upright and contribute their best to the society.
- To create studies that is highly practical based, innovative and dynamic for direct absorption into industries and for self-empowerment (Lenspolytechnic, 2021).
1.3 Statement of Problems
Health problems usually do not occur during an Rh-negative woman’s first pregnancy with an Rh-positive fetus. This is because her body does not have a chance to develop a lot of antibodies. But if treatment is not given during the first pregnancy and the woman later gets pregnant again with an Rh-positive fetus, she can make more antibodies. More antibodies put a future fetus at risk.
When the blood of an Rh-positive fetus gets into the bloodstream of an Rh-negative woman, her body will recognize that the Rh-positive blood is not hers. Her body will try to destroy it by making anti-Rh antibodies. These antibodies can cross the placenta and attack the fetus’s blood cells. This can lead to serious health problems, even death, for a fetus or a newborn.
During a pregnancy, Rh antibodies made in a woman’s body can cross the placenta and attack the Rh factor on fetal blood cells. This can cause a serious type of anemia in the fetus in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them.
Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Without enough red blood cells, the fetus will not get enough oxygen. In some cases, a fetus or a newborn can die from anemia. Rh incompatibility also can cause jaundice in a newborn.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Awareness and Acceptance of Rhesus Factor or Blood Grouping in Lens Polytechnic Kwara State Offa. In achieving this aim, the following objectives were set out as follows:
- To investigate the awareness of blood grouping in Lens Polytechnic Kwara State Offa,
- To analyze the acceptance rate of rhesus factor or blood grouping,
- To assess the attitude of students in Lens Polytechnic Kwara State Offa towards Rhesus Blood Grouping.
1.5 Research Questions
The following are the questions of the research work;
- What are the Rhesus factors?
- Is there any awareness of blood grouping in Lens Polytechnic?
- Is blood grouping in Lens Polytechnic Kwara State acceptable?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
H0; There is no significant difference between the awareness of Rhesus Blood grouping and the acceptance Rhesus factor in Lens Polytechnic Kwara State, Offa
H1; There is significant difference between the awareness of Rhesus Blood grouping and the acceptance Rhesus factor in Lens Polytechnic Kwara State, Offa
1.7 Justification of Study
The study will help to provide information to the Government and health care providers on the level of Awareness and acceptance of Rhesus factor or Blood Grouping in Lens Polytechnic Kwara State Offa. The information provided will serve as tools to healthcare providers in identifying areas of need, if findings shows low level of knowledge, appropriate measures will be devised to strengthen their enlighten campaign in other to health educate them on the importance of the blood grouping.
Findings from this study will be useful to health educators, counselors and policy makers as it will provide the relationship between Awareness and Acceptance of Rhesus Blood grouping and the acceptance Rhesus factor in Lens Polytechnic Kwara State, Offa.
Furthermore, the findings will also serve as a point of reference for future studies. Beside, the study will serve as reference material for subsequent researcher in the field or related topics.
1.8 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Awareness and Acceptance of Rhesus Blood grouping and the acceptance Rhesus factor in Lens Polytechnic Kwara State, Offa.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
