Assessment of Blood Group Distribution and Rh Factor Among Students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, North West Nigeria

This study determines the distribution of ABO blood groups and Rhesus (Rh) factor among undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, located in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone. Knowledge of blood group distribution is essential for transfusion medicine planning, emergency surgical preparedness, and understanding population genetics. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 400 volunteer students selected by stratified random sampling across six faculties. Blood grouping and Rh typing were performed using the tile agglutination method with specific antisera. Findings revealed that blood group O was the most common (47.5%), followed by group A (26.0%), group B (21.5%), and group AB (5.0%). The Rh-positive phenotype was present in 94.5 percent of participants, with Rh-negative constituting 5.5 percent. No significant difference in blood group distribution was observed between male and female students, though a trend toward higher group O prevalence was noted among students of Hausa-Fulani ethnicity. These findings align broadly with previously reported distributions for Northern Nigerian populations. The relatively low Rh-negative frequency underscores the importance of universal Rh typing before transfusion and during antenatal care to prevent haemolytic disease of the newborn in the region. Establishment of a university blood bank registry based on these data is recommended to enhance emergency blood supply at ABU Teaching Hospital. Keywords: ABO blood group, Rhesus factor, blood group distribution, Ahmadu Bello University, transfusion.