Pregnant Women' Knowledge and Attitudes toward Cord Blood Stem Cell Banking and Donation at Gharbia Governorate, Egypt

Awad, Eman Youssif Ali; EL-Said, Faiza Mohamed; Khaton, Samia E.

doi:10.21608/tsnj.2023.319667

Pregnant Women' Knowledge and Attitudes toward Cord Blood Stem Cell Banking and Donation at Gharbia Governorate, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Lecturer of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Egypt.

² Lecturer of Maternal and Neonatal Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Egypt.

³ Assistant professor Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Egypt.

10.21608/tsnj.2023.319667

Abstract

Background: In the light of the increase in incidence of immunity diseases,
metabolic disorders and blood diseases, the need for cord blood stem cell as
therapeutic option has become essential. Parents, especially mothers need to decide if
they would like to store their infant’s cord blood and donate it. They need to be aware
of options exists and information needed. Aim of the study was to assess pregnant
women knowledge and attitudes toward cord blood stem cell banking and donation at
Gharbia Governorate, Egypt. Setting: This study was conducted in Antenatal Clinics
at the largest ten Central Hospitals and ten Rural Health Units in Gharbia
Governorate, Egypt. Subjects: A convenient sample of one thousand (1000) pregnant
women from the previous settings. Tools: Two tools were used: Tool I: Structured
Interview Schedule: It included three parts: - Socio-demographic data of the pregnant
women, obstetric history of the pregnant women and Pregnant Women's knowledge
toward cord blood stem cells & its banking and donation. Tool II: Pregnant women’
attitudes toward donation and banking of cord blood stem cells. Results: the majority
(78.5%) of the studied pregnant women had low level of knowledge regarding cord
blood and stem cell & its banking and donation and nearly the half (49.5%) of them
had negative attitudes, with statistically significant relationship between total
knowledge and attitudes scores. Education and occupation of the pregnant women
have a statistically significant correlation with total knowledge and attitudes scores.
Conclusion and recommendations: the levels of pregnant women knowledge and
attitudes regarding cord blood stem cell banking and donation were very low and need
to be improved. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct health education programs
and companies through health authorities and the media to increase awareness and
support pregnant women's positive attitudes toward cord blood stem cell banking and
donation to develop and expand the status of umbilical cord blood banking in Egypt