Blood Type Detection as an Effort to Increase Students' Health Awareness at SMPN 5 Tinggi Moncong in Gowa, South Sulawesi

Abstract

Gaining knowledge of blood type is crucial for individual health, particularly when facing emergencies that require immediate transfusion or medical decisions. However, many adolescents, especially those in rural areas, lack awareness of their own blood types. This community service project aimed to increase blood type literacy and conduct actual blood type screening among students of SMPN 5 Tinggi Moncong in Gowa, South Sulawesi. A total of 26 students participated in a structured program consisting of health education sessions, demonstrations, and hands-on blood type screening using the slide agglutination method with anti-A, anti-B, anti-AB, and anti-Rh reagents. The results showed that blood type A was the most common (42%), followed by types B and AB (23% each), and type O (12%). Post-activity surveys indicated that students experienced increased awareness, reduced anxiety, and greater motivation to encourage family members to know their blood types. The activity not only served as a health awareness tool but also helped introduce practical biological knowledge in a rural educational context. This model can be replicated in other underserved schools to promote early health preparedness and reduce barriers to essential health information.