Digital Dialogs on Rhesus Incompatibility: A Thematic Analysis of Web-Based Parental Narratives.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

Feto-maternal incompatibilities such as rhesus (Rh) (D) alloimmunization remain a critical cause of neonatal morbidity despite advances in prevention. While anti-D prophylaxis has significantly reduced hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, confusion, emotional distress, and misinformation persist. This study aimed to explore how parents interpret and respond to Rh incompatibility through web-based discussions, highlighting concerns, misconceptions, and informational needs.

METHODS

A qualitative, inductive thematic analysis was conducted on 312 publicly available posts from Reddit, Facebook groups, YouTube comments, and parenting forums (2018-2024). Posts were retrieved using systematic keyword searches and included if they addressed Rh incompatibility, anti-D prophylaxis, or related interventions. Two researchers independently coded the data using NVivo, and themes were developed iteratively.

RESULTS

Six major themes emerged: (1) risk perceptions (uncertainty about fetal harm), (2) emotional burden (anxiety, guilt, confusion), (3) understanding anti-D (misconceptions about timing and purpose), (4) treatment confusion (misunderstanding phototherapy and transfusions), (5) doctor-patient trust gaps, and (6) community misinformation (conspiracy theories and anecdotal remedies). Many users reported inadequate explanations from providers and turned to online forums for clarity - often encountering conflicting or incorrect information.

CONCLUSION

Web-based narratives map parental anxieties and highlight the need for improved digital health communication. Clinicians and health systems should develop culturally sensitive, web-compatible educational strategies to guide expectant parents toward reliable information and reduce misinformation-driven risk. Cultural references, especially from Turkish-language forums, should be interpreted cautiously in light of contextual and linguistic nuances.