HLA concordance between hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients and umbilical cord blood units: Implications for cord blood banking in admixed populations

Barriers and facilitators to cord blood banking among pregnant women at a university obstetric clinic

“…Further, women of all age groups wanted to receive information about CBB from their doctor's office (18–30 years of age, 80.75%; 31–35 years, 85.06%). Although our population is not primarily urban, the findings of our study are consistent with previous reports 8–17,19,21 …”

“…Another study conducted in Croatia 13 similarly reported that the main source of information for pregnant women was the media, and only 6% of pregnant women obtained information from their obstetrician. 9 A study including five European countries investigated knowledge and attitudes toward CBB in pregnant women; they reported that 59.6% of the women who had heard about CBB obtained that information via mass media (internet, television, and press radio). However, a study in Lebanon found the opposite result, 8 with only 22.8% of the sample of 244 pregnant women using the internet to seek information about CBB.…”

“…This is similar to the results of a study in Italy, 24 which found that the main source of CBB information was the internet (51.2%). Another study conducted in Croatia 13 similarly reported that the main source of information for pregnant women was the media, and only 6% of pregnant women obtained information from their obstetrician 9 . A study including five European countries investigated knowledge and attitudes toward CBB in pregnant women; they reported that 59.6% of the women who had heard about CBB obtained that information via mass media (internet, television, and press radio).…”

“…This is concerning since NHB (16%) are the largest minority group living in Arkansas, followed by Hispanics (8%) 26 Similarly, a study conducted in St. Louis, MO, a large metropolitan city, to measure awareness and knowledge among third‐trimester pregnant women reported that women less than 30 years of age without a college education and who belonged to a minority group had the least knowledge regarding CBB 15 . This lack of knowledge by women in minority groups contributes to the inadequate diversity in banked CB, 21 which is critical to the population in need of an alternative source of cells for transplant 9 . Further, with current trials of gene correction for sickle cell anemia and thalassemia showing positive results, it will be even more important in the future for women to know about CB banking as a possible source of cells for this life‐altering therapy 27 …”

“…Although our population is not primarily urban, the findings of our study are consistent with previous reports. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]19,21 Pregnant women's lack of knowledge of the process and purpose of CBB continues to be a major barrier, despite the availability of this information in obstetrical clinics in the form of brochures and via multiple sites on the internet. In this study, only 26% of the sample understood the purpose of CB collection, and minority women-either NHB or Hispanics with a high school diploma or less (50.6%)-were the least likely to be aware of and knowledgeable about CBB.…”