ABO and Rhesus D Blood Group Distribution among pregnant women attending Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nigeria.

Rhesus (Rh) incompatibility refers to the discordant pairing of maternal and foetal Rh types. It is associated with the development of maternal Rh sensitization and haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn (HDFN). This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of Rh-negative status and its associated risk factors in pregnant women attending Keffi Medical Center. A cross-sectional Hospital based study was conducted in Federal Medical Center, Keffi. A total of 150 pregnant women were randomly selected into the study. ABO blood group was determined using Anti-A, B, AB standard antisera while the direct and Indirect Coombs test was used to determine the Rhesus (Rh-D) status of the pregnant subjects. The prevalence of blood groups A, B, AB and O was 28.7%, 22.7%, 3.3% and 45.3% respectively. The ABO blood group distribution followed the pattern O>A>B>AB. The study revealed that 139 (92.7%) where Rh D positive while 11 (7.3%) were Rh D negative . Awareness and understanding of the significance of Rh-D status among the pregnant women was poor. There is a risk for sensitization and HDFN particularly among the 7.3% of the subjects who are Rh- D negative particularly if there is Rhesus- D incompatibility with their developing foetus. We recommend that that the ABO and Rhesus D status of pregnant women be determined routinely during antenatal booking and that those women who are Rhesus D negative, not previously sensitized and who have undergone cell free foetal DNA testing and are found to be carrying a Rh D positive foetus should be enrolled into the Routine Antenatal Anti-D Prophylaxis (RAADP) programme and provided universal access to anti-D prophylaxis to prevent the risk of HDFN.