Knowledge Attitude and Practices of Rhesus Incompatibility Among Women Attending Antenatal Care in Kampala International University-Teaching Hospital.

ABSTRACT Background: Rhesus incompatibility occurs when a rhesus negative woman is carrying a rhesus positive foetus, the first pregnancy is normally spared, unless the mother is injected with Anti D,the subsequent pregnancies will have complications resulting to kernicterus, erythroblastosis fetalis or hydrops fetalis, in other words the foetus will not survive to term or will die shortly after birth).The objectives were: Assessing knowledge, attitude and practices of Rhesus incompatibility among women attending antenatal care in KIU-TH. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out in which quantitative methods were employed, this was done by formulation and use of close ended questions on a questionnaire Results: only 17.5% knew what rhesus incompatibility is, the majority 82.5%had no idea. 12.5% knew how it occurs, 7.5% weren’t sure,and 80% did not know, only 15% had knowledge of Anti D used to prevent rhesus incompatibility, the majority 85% had never heard of it. 7.5% attributed the complications(stillbirths/miscarriages) due to rhesus incompatibility to witchcraft and curses. The price of Anti D was thought to be so expensive by 20%of women the majority 80%said it was worth it. Only 25% acknowledged supernatural powers as a solution to rhesus incompatibility, the majority 75% would visit a hospital for a solution to this. Conclusions and recommendations: Knowledge about Rhesus incompatibility is still very low, women attending antenatal services in KIU-TH need to be educated about it, its complications and prevention.The ministry of health Uganda need to subsidize on the price of anti D.