Frequency of ABO/Rhesus (D) blood groupings and ethnic distribution in the Greater‐Accra region of Ghana, towards effective blood bank inventory

Abstract

Knowledge on blood group phenotypes is of key importance in clinical practice. It used in blood transfusion practice to determine the direction of recruitment of voluntary donors as required for each population within a country, and for disease association and population genetics studies. This study aimed at reporting the frequency of ABO and Rhesus (Rh) groups in the population of the Greater-Accra region of Ghana and amongst their various ethnic groups. A retrospective study in 11 main hospitals within the region was done. Data collected provided information on the blood group status of persons (both blood donors and recipients) who visited the selected hospitals. Medical records used were within the years 2012-2017. A total of 42,317 (26,802 males and 15,515 females) data were retrieved and analysed. The frequencies of the blood groups O, A, B and AB were 50.0%, 24.3%, 20.7% and 5.0%, respectively. Rhesus-positive to negative ratio was 93.2%/6.2%. Frequencies of blood group O was highest (49.1%-53.6%) in all ethnic groups. The second most dominant blood group was B (24.2%-25.4%) in the Ga-Adamgbe, Akan and Ewe ethnic groups, whilst blood group A (25.0%-26.9%) was the second most dominant in the Northerners and non-Ghanaians. Blood group distribution amongst gender and different age groups showed no significant differences but followed the same pattern for the general population. The study provides data on the ethnic distribution and frequency of ABO and Rhesus blood groupings in the Greater-Accra region of Ghana. It also informs the need for blood banks in the region to increase the proportion of stockpiled Rhesus-positive blood groups especially for O, B and A that may be high in demand.