title: ABO and Rhesus (D) blood group distribution among blood donors in rural south western Uganda: a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Uganda, geographical distribution of blood groups and Rhesus (D) factor varies across the country. The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of these groups among voluntary blood donors in rural southwestern Uganda.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three thousand five hundred four (23,504) blood donors were included in the study. The donors had a mean age of 21 years (SD ± 5.7) and were mainly male (73%). The distribution of ABO blood group was; blood group O (50.3%); blood group A (24.6%); blood group B (20.7%) and blood group AB (4.5%). The proportions of Rhesus (D) positive and Rhesus (D) negative were 98 and 2% respectively. The proportion of non-adult donors (<18 years) was significantly higher among the female than the male donors (p value <0.001). A significantly higher proportion of males than females were Rhesus (D) negative (p-value <0.001). No significant relationship was found between age and blood group distribution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sequence of ABO distribution among the rural population in southwestern Uganda is; O > A > B > AB, with males as the predominant donors. The frequency of Rhesus (D) negative is very low in rural southwestern Ugandan and is mainly among males. The blood bank services in southwestern Uganda need to develop innovative strategies targeting female donors who are more likely to boost blood stocks in the region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda. apecurich@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Richard Onyuthi
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Apecu
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
authors.forename: Edgar M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mulogo
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda.
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bagenda
authors.affiliation: Mbarara Regional Blood Bank, Southwestern Region, Ministry of Health, Mbarara, Uganda.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Byamungu
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001771:Blood Banks; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D014454:Uganda; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System
keywords: ABO; Blood groups; Rhesus (D); Rural southwestern Uganda