The frequency of ABO and Rhesus(D) blood group antigens among blood transfused patients in Northern Ethiopia, 2023: Retrospective study

Abstract

BackgroundData about the distribution of ABO and RhD blood groups is important for effective blood utilization, which is maintained by identifying the most clinically required blood type. However, there is a scarcity of data in Ethiopia about the distribution of ABO and RhD blood groups among blood-transfused patients, particularly in the study area. ObjectiveTo determine the frequency of ABO and RhD blood groups among blood transfused patients at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northern Ethiopia, 2023. MethodA hospital-based retrospective study was conducted from September 1 to September 30, 2022, to determine the frequency of ABO and RhD blood groups among blood-transfused patients at Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. The study was conducted on data from blood-transfused patients from October 2019 to June 2022. A total of 3762 blood transfused patients’ data was collected from the blood transfusion log book records. The data were coded, entered, and cleaned using Epi-data version 4.6 and analyzed for descriptive statistics using Stata version 14.0. ResultA total of 3762 blood-transfused patients were included in the study. Of those, females made up 57.3 % (2156/3762). Of 3762 blood transfused patients, the majority (33.9 %, 1277/3762) had ABO blood group B, and 81.3 % (3060/3762) of the blood transfused patients were RhD-positive. Eight thousand three hundred fifteen units of whole blood were transfused to 3762 patients, with a mean of 2.2 units of blood transfused per patient. Furthermore, the majority of the study participants 42.82 %, (1611/3762) were given two units of blood, and 8.77 % (330/3762) were given four units of blood. ConclusionMost of the study participants had B and RhD-positive blood groups. The majority of the blood transfused patients were females. Most of the blood was transfused in the medical ward, and whole blood was transfused for all patients.