Final answer:
Research shows that approximately 13-14 percent of Rh negative individuals become sensitized after exposure to Rh positive blood. Sensitization can lead to hemolytic disease of the newborn in future pregnancies if the mother is not treated with RhoGAM. Prevention is crucial in managing the health of Rh negative mothers and their babies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process where Rh negative individuals produce antibodies to the Rh antigen after exposure is called sensitization. This often occurs when an Rh negative person receives Rh positive blood through transfusion or during childbirth when an Rh negative mother gives birth to an Rh positive baby. According to research mentioned in the question prompt, about 13-14 percent of Rh negative people become sensitized after their first exposure to Rh positive blood or with the birth of an Rh positive baby.
If an Rh negative woman becomes pregnant with a second Rh positive fetus, and she has been sensitized, the anti-Rh antibodies can cross the placenta, potentially leading to hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), which can be life-threatening without treatment. This is why pregnant Rh negative women are often treated with RhoGAM to prevent the production of anti-Rh antibodies during pregnancy and after delivery.