GENDER-WISE DISTRIBUTION OF ABO AND RH BLOOD GROUPS IN THE POPULATION OF DERA ISMAIL KHAN, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: The ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood group systems are the most clinically important blood group systems and play a vital role in blood transfusion, organ transplantation, and emergency medical care. Knowledge of the distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups in a population is essential for effective blood bank management, transfusion services, and public health planning. However, limited data are available regarding the gender-wise distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Objective: To determine the gender-wise distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups among the population of Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and to assess the association between gender and blood group distribution. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 500 participants from Dera Ismail Khan. The study included 257 (51.4%) males and 243 (48.6%) females. Blood samples were collected, and ABO and Rh blood grouping was performed using standard immunohematological methods. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Frequencies and percentages were calculated, and the Pearson Chi-square test was used to determine the association between gender and blood group distribution. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the ABO blood groups, blood group B was the most prevalent (33.6%), followed by blood group O (31.4%), blood group A (27.2%), and blood group AB (7.8%). Analysis of individual blood groups showed that B-positive (31.2%) was the most common, while AB-negative (0.4%) was the least common. Regarding the Rh system, 458 (91.6%) participants were Rh-positive, whereas 42 (8.4%) were Rh-negative. Gender-wise analysis demonstrated that B-positive was the most frequent blood group among males, while A-positive was the most frequent among females. The Pearson Chi-square test revealed a statistically significant association between gender and blood group distribution (χ² = 17.68, df = 7, p = 0.0135). Conclusion: Blood group B was the most prevalent ABO blood group, while AB was the least prevalent among the study population. Rh-positive blood groups were markedly more common than Rh-negative blood groups. A statistically significant association was observed between gender and blood group distribution. The findings provide valuable baseline information for blood banks, healthcare institutions, and transfusion services in Dera Ismail Khan and may assist in improving blood inventory management and planning future epidemiological studies.

 Keywords: ABO blood group, Rh factor, blood group distribution, gender, blood transfusion, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, Chi-square test.