title: The prevalence of Rhesus negativity among pregnant women in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hemolytic disease of the newborn, secondary to rhesus D (Rh D) iso-immunization, contributes significantly to perinatal morbidity and mortality. Prevalence data in Nigeria, and Southeast Nigeria in particular, is very scanty. This study was carried out to provide our experience in this preventable clinical condition in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and trends of Rh D negativity among pregnant women in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 5-year retrospective study of rhesus negative women was carried out at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria, between 1 st January 2000 and 31 st December 2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence rate of Rh D negative women in Enugu, Nigeria, is 4.5%. Out of 6306 women who booked for antenatal care, 282 (4.5%) were Rh D negative women. One hundred and eighty-two (182) (64.5%) of the Rh D negative women were of blood group O followed by blood group A 20%, blood group B 12.1%, and blood group AB 3.2%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for adequate counseling of pregnant women on the importance of Rh D negative factor during the antenatal period in order to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. ubabiketochukwu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Okeke
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ocheni
authors.forename: U I
authors.initials: UI
authors.lastname: Nwagha
authors.forename: O G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Ibegbulam
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012203:Rh Isoimmunization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; C026410:Rho(D) antigen