Blood group distribution in an urban population of patient targeted blood donors.
BACKGROUND
The frequencies of ABO and Rhesus D blood groups vary from one population to another.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequencies of the ABO and Rhesus D blood groups and to assess the preparedness of the hospital based patient targeted blood donor unit in the provision of blood and blood products and also to determine the blood groups of patients attending the antenatal clinic over the same period.


METHODS
A retrospective study using data from the hospital's blood transfusion unit.


METHODS
The Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi.


METHODS
All persons donating blood and attending the antenatal clinic between October 1997 and December 1997 were included in the study.


RESULTS
Blood group O was found to be most frequent: 49% in indigenous African donors and ANC attendants, 45% in the general donor population and 34% among Asian donors. The frequency of blood group B was 33% in the Asian donors, 27% in all donors, 25% in African donors, and 24% in ANC attendants. Group AB was seven per cent in Asian donors, five per cent in both the general donor population and the ANC attendants and four per cent in the African donors. The frequency of blood group A was 26% in Asian donors, 23% in all donors and 22% in both the African donors and ANC attendants. Ninety four per cent of the indigenous African donors were Rhesus D positive, 97% of the ANC attendants were Rhesus D positive and 90% of the Asian donors were Rhesus D positive.


CONCLUSIONS
The blood groups of blood and blood products available at the hospital based transfusion unit closely correlate with those of the general population. A positive bias towards the rarer blood groups AB and Rh D negative is noted. The Rhesus D antigen has a high prevalence in indigenous Africans.
Mwangi
J
J
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi.
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics; D001771:Blood Banks; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System