Assessment of Blood Group Distribution and Compatibility Knowledge Among Undergraduate Students at the University of Lagos

ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood group systems are critical determinants in transfusion medicine, organ transplantation, and maternal-foetal compatibility. Despite their medical importance, awareness of personal blood group status and transfusion compatibility remains inadequate among many Nigerian young adults. This descriptive cross-sectional study assessed blood group distribution and self-reported compatibility knowledge among 400 undergraduate students at the University of Lagos, South West Nigeria. Blood group typing was conducted using standard agglutination techniques with anti-A, anti-B, and anti-D sera. Simultaneously, a validated structured questionnaire evaluated participants' awareness of their blood group, knowledge of compatibility principles, and willingness to donate blood. Findings revealed that blood group O was the most frequent among participants, consistent with reported Nigerian population trends. However, a notable proportion of students were unaware of their blood group or held misconceptions about compatibility. Female students demonstrated marginally higher awareness than their male counterparts. These results highlight a gap in health education curricula at the university level. Strengthening blood group literacy through orientation programmes and campus-based screening exercises is recommended. This study provides baseline data for future comparative research and contributes to the broader discourse on voluntary blood donation culture in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Keywords: ABO blood group, Rhesus factor, transfusion compatibility, University of Lagos, blood group awareness