Who is affected by Rh sensitization during pregnancy

Overall, a minority of all people have Rh-negative blood. Gender does not affect your chance of having Rh-negative blood. However, the likelihood of being Rh-negative varies by racial and ethnic background.¹

30% of Basques have Rh-negative blood.
15% of white Americans have Rh-negative blood.
8% of African Americans and Hispanics from Mexico and Central America have Rh-negative blood.
Less than 1% of native peoples (such as Eskimos and Native Americans) and Asians (such as Japanese and Chinese) have Rh-negative blood.

References

Citations

Moise KJ (2004). Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. In RK Creasy, R Resnik, eds., Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice, 5th ed., pp. 537–561. Philadelphia: Saunders.

Credits

Author	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Gregory A L Davies, MD, FRCSC, FACOG - Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Last Updated	November 2, 2007