Abstract
Background: The need for blood group prevalence studies is multipurpose, as besides their importance in evolution; their relation to disease and environment is being increasingly sought in modern medicine. Blood group antigens are not only important in relation to blood transfusion and organ transplantation, but also have been utilized in genetic research, anthropology and training ancestral relation of humans.
Settings and Design: A community-based study was carried out on blood groups representing a random population sample from Al-Hajouf Ethnic group, Saudi Arabia.
Aims: To determine the frequency of different blood groups in AL-hajouj Ethnic Group, which would not only help in blood transfusion services, but also eliminate the risk of erythroblastosis fetalis in the neonates.
Material and Methods: ABO and Rh (D) typing was carried out over a period of six months, and included fifty individuals, with subjects from both genders; blood samples were collected from students of the college of Applied Medical Science -Aljouf University. A finger prick blood of a total of 2581 subjects, comprising 1123 females and 1458 males were tested for ABO and Rh(D) blood groups by routine slide method.
Statistical analysis: Data from study groups were analyzed by computer using SPSS(statistical Package for Social Science) to measure the frequencies and percentage.
Results: The blood group "B" was the predominant (36.23.0%) in both Rh positive and negative subjects among AL-hajouj Ethnic Group.
Conclusion: The frequency of ABO blood groups in both Rh positive and negative subjects among the AL-hajouj Ethnic Group was B>A>O>AB where the blood group B was the commonest among Rh positive subjects.