Frequency and Polymorphism of ABO and Rh (D) Blood Group Antigens among Kurdish Population in Zakho City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Objective and aim: Accurate knowledge of ABO and Rh (D) blood group systems phenotype has been extensively studied among different populations. However, the Kurdish population resident in Zakho City has not yet had their data collected. Thus, this study has been conducted to address this issue. Material and Methods: This is a Prospective, cross -sectional study conducted at the premarital screening center at Zakho emergency teaching hospital for the determination of ABO and Rh (D) blood group antigens by slide agglutination method using specific antisera (Anti -A, Anti -B, Anti -D). All 11, 910 Kurdish individuals who attended mandatory premarital screening between January 2, 2021, and January 31, 2024, were included in this study. Results: Blood group A was found to be most prevalent and detected in 4, 817 (40.4%) of the studied population, followed by group O in 4, 276 (35.9%), then group B in 2, 008 (16.9%), and finally, group AB in 809 (6.8%). Rh (D) positive phenotype was detected in 10, 950 (91.9%), while 980 (8.1%) persons were found to be Rh (D) negative. No significant differences were found between ABO and Rh (D) distribution with either sex or religion. Conclusion: Blood group A was found as the most common blood group in the ABOsystem, followed by groups O, and B, and the least one is the AB blood group.Most of the studied individuals were Rh (D) positive.ABO and Rh (D) distribution were quite similar to the Kurdish population living in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria, while being quite different from Iraqi Arabs, Indians, Chinese, Pakistanis, Americans, and Caucasians.