The Rhesus blood group system is second to the ABO blood group system among the clinically
significant red cell antigens. The Rhesus blood group system has been incriminated in cases of
haemolytic transfusion reaction and haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn. In this present
study, we investigated 155 pregnant women aged 18 to 45 years and mean age 27.19 ± 4.70
attending antenatal clinic in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto for their
Rhesus E phenotype using Lorne Laboratories (United Kingdom) anti-E reagent. Out of the 155
pregnant women tested, 44(28.4%) were positive for Rh (E) whereas 111(71.6%) tested negative.
Subjects were classified based on ethnicity. Pregnant women of Hausa ethnic group was found to
have the highest frequency (60.6%), followed by Fulani (12.3%), Igbo (11.6%), others (9.7%) and
Yoruba (5.8%). Subjects were stratified based on age groups. The age range of 26-35yrs was
found to have the highest frequency 76 (49%), followed by 15-25 yrs 70 (45.2%) and 36-45yrs 9
(5.8%). Subjects were also categorized based on their educational status. Subjects that attended
tertiary institutions had the highest frequency 42.6%, followed by secondary 31.6%, primary
21.9% and non formal 3.9%. We recommend that all pregnant women be routinely tested for
clinically significant red cell antigen including Rhesus E during pregnancy. Pregnant women who
are Rh E negative who require a transfusion should be transfused with Rh E negative red cells to
prevent alloimmunization and HDFN in future pregnancies. Pregnant women should be tested
routinely for the presence of clinically significant alloantibodies. Those positive for alloantibodies
should be transfused with red cells that are negative for antigens to which the antibody is specific.