Attitude of pregnant women attending Ramathibodi Hospital toward the “Ramathibodi Placental Utilization Project (Rama PUP)”

Abstract

Objective: To determine the pregnant women’s attitude toward the use of placental compartments in

the placental utilization project.

Main outcome measures: The perception and attitude of pregnant women toward the Ramathibodi

Placental Utilization Project (Rama PUP); use of amnion for plastic and eye surgery, use of umbilical

cord blood and stem cells for transfusion and transplantation, and use of placental cotyledons, as

feedstuff, for animal.

Results: The results showed that 16% of pregnant women were aware of the use of amniotic

membranes for eye surgery, 13% learned about the food from placental cotyledons, 7% knew about the

use of amniotic membranes for eye surgery and 6% knew that umbilical cord blood could be used for

transfusion and transplantation. Most of the women (95%) agree with the use of amniotic membranes

for plastic and eye surgery, cord blood for transfusion and transplantation. However, 28% of them

disagreed with the use of placental cotyledons for animal feedstuff.

Conclusion: The use of placental compartments for plastic surgery, eye surgery, transfusion and

transplantation were accepted by most pregnant women while almost 30% of them disagreed with the

use of placental cotyledons for feedstuff. We need to inform the advantage and disadvantage of this

project to the general public.