Rh disease in Mexico: evaluating regional and institutional differences in treatment availability and disease management

Abstract

Background - Rh disease occurs following maternal alloimmunization, which can develop due to RhD blood group antigen incompatibility between a mother and her fetus. Despite developing robust clinical protocols for effective immunoprophylaxis over the last 50+ years, a significant global burden of Rh disease still exists, particularly in low/middle-income countries such as Mexico.

Materials and methods - This study examined disparities in the allocation of maternal and child health resources, as well as clinical knowledge regarding Rh disease, to gain insight into why Rh disease remains prevalent in Mexico. To this end, an 11-question survey was sent to members of the Federación Mexicana de Colegios de Obstetricia y Ginecología (FEMECOG) to evaluate their knowledge of the availability and implementation of anti-RhD immunoglobulin prophylaxis in their practices and institutions, and about managing Rh disease by monitoring fetal anemia risk and providing intrauterine treatment when necessary. Responses were separated by region, and chi-square two-by-two contingency tests were performed to evaluate regional and institutional differences.

Results - Significant variations in prevention and treatment were found within the Mexican healthcare system, particularly, with regard to providing anti-RhD immunoglobulin to prevent alloimmunization, which is critically important for preventing Rh disease. Specifically, Regions 5, 6, and 7 were most lacking in this regard.

Discussion - This study highlights differences in the Mexican healthcare system in preventing and treating Rh disease. Closing the gap in the availability of
anti-RhD immunoglobulin should take priority in future efforts aimed at providing equitable care, because this will lead to the more preferable outcome of preventing Rh disease, rather than forcing patients to seek out more complex measures for treating Rh disease after it develops. These data can be used to create strategies to understand and eliminate these healthcare disparities.