An Analysis of Genotype Frequencies of Blood Group Antigens from Bannu Region (NWFP) in Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: A community-based study was carried out on a random population sample from urban and rural areas of Bannu region, North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. The objective was to identify the genotypic frequency of blood groups in the region, in order to comprehend the allelic diversity. Material and Methods: Blood grouping was carried out over a period of 16 month from January 2002 to April 2003, and encompassed 2581 subjects, in which 57.09% were male and 42.09% female. These were categorized according to ABO/Rh system. Allele frequency was computed according to Hardy-Weinberg law. Results: The distribution of phenotypes in the total sample were 0.3623, 0.3103, 0.2507 and 0.0767 for group B, A, O and AB, respectively, with 0.672 Rh positive ® and 0.328 Rh negative (r). B group was dominant in both the genders, and AB was rare in both males as well as females. The distribution of the alleles in the total sample was 0.345, 0.378 and 0.277 for IA, IB and i, respectively. Conclusion: The studied population exhibited a predominance of group B, in the order of B>A>O>AB, as well as Rh positive antigen for both male (90.26%) and female (87.98%) subjects within the population, with Rh negative men and women being 9.74% and 12.02% respectively. Allele frequency recorded was in the order of IB>IA>i, and R>r.