Hepatitis A seropositivity among first-year students of the Medical University in Isfahan, Iran
Background: Students of medicine are prone to contact with various infectious agents such as hepatitis A virus (HAV). Infection with HAV may lead to morbidity and in rare cases, mortality. We evaluated the seroprevalence of HAV among 1 st -year medical students to assess the necessity of vaccination...
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doaj-4b1d3a1db57942d2b0b1252ea0fddb592020-11-24T21:01:25ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsInternational Journal of Preventive Medicine2008-78022008-82132014-01-01515208212Hepatitis A seropositivity among first-year students of the Medical University in Isfahan, IranHossein SaneianHamid RahimiParisa ShoaeiBackground: Students of medicine are prone to contact with various infectious agents such as hepatitis A virus (HAV). Infection with HAV may lead to morbidity and in rare cases, mortality. We evaluated the seroprevalence of HAV among 1 st -year medical students to assess the necessity of vaccination/preventive immunoglobulin in this at-risk population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2007 among 403 1 st -year medical students in Isfahan, Iran. Participants filled out a questionnaire including items on demographic characteristics, medical history, and hygiene. Then, the anti-HAV IgG antibody was assessed using the ELISA method (Diagnostic Bioprobes, Dia-Pro, Milan, Italy). Results: Among the 403 students invited to attend the study, 361 ones (89.5%) agreed to participate (61.1% female), with a mean age of 19.8 ± 2.6 years. Of the participants, 272 (75.3%) students were seropositive. Seropositivity was not associated with gender (P = 0.222), but was associated with the number of family members (P < 0.001), residence place (P = 0.003), age (P < 0.001), and the type of drinking water (P = 0.008). Conclusions: One of the four medical college students of our society is prone to hepatitis A infection. Accordingly, vaccination/preventive immunoglobulin is suggested for this population; however, whether a prior serological screening is cost-effective needs further evaluation by epidemiologic data from our society.http://www.ijpvmjournal.net/article.asp?issn=2008-7802;year=2014;volume=5;issue=15;spage=208;epage=212;aulast=SaneianEpidemiologyhealth occupations studentsHepatitis AIranpreventionvaccination |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Hossein Saneian Hamid Rahimi Parisa Shoaei |
spellingShingle |
Hossein Saneian Hamid Rahimi Parisa Shoaei Hepatitis A seropositivity among first-year students of the Medical University in Isfahan, Iran International Journal of Preventive Medicine Epidemiology health occupations students Hepatitis A Iran prevention vaccination |
author_facet |
Hossein Saneian Hamid Rahimi Parisa Shoaei |
author_sort |
Hossein Saneian |
title |
Hepatitis A seropositivity among first-year students of the Medical University in Isfahan, Iran |
title_short |
Hepatitis A seropositivity among first-year students of the Medical University in Isfahan, Iran |
title_full |
Hepatitis A seropositivity among first-year students of the Medical University in Isfahan, Iran |
title_fullStr |
Hepatitis A seropositivity among first-year students of the Medical University in Isfahan, Iran |
title_full_unstemmed |
Hepatitis A seropositivity among first-year students of the Medical University in Isfahan, Iran |
title_sort |
hepatitis a seropositivity among first-year students of the medical university in isfahan, iran |
publisher |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
series |
International Journal of Preventive Medicine |
issn |
2008-7802 2008-8213 |
publishDate |
2014-01-01 |
description |
Background: Students of medicine are prone to contact with various infectious agents such as hepatitis A virus (HAV). Infection with HAV may lead to morbidity and in rare cases, mortality. We evaluated the seroprevalence of HAV among 1 st -year medical students to assess the necessity of vaccination/preventive immunoglobulin in this at-risk population.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2007 among 403 1 st -year medical students in Isfahan, Iran. Participants filled out a questionnaire including items on demographic characteristics, medical history, and hygiene. Then, the anti-HAV IgG antibody was assessed using the ELISA method (Diagnostic Bioprobes, Dia-Pro, Milan, Italy).
Results: Among the 403 students invited to attend the study, 361 ones (89.5%) agreed to participate (61.1% female), with a mean age of 19.8 ± 2.6 years. Of the participants, 272 (75.3%) students were seropositive. Seropositivity was not associated with gender (P = 0.222), but was associated with the number of family members (P < 0.001), residence place (P = 0.003), age (P < 0.001), and the type of drinking water (P = 0.008).
Conclusions: One of the four medical college students of our society is prone to hepatitis A infection. Accordingly, vaccination/preventive immunoglobulin is suggested for this population; however, whether a prior serological screening is cost-effective needs further evaluation by epidemiologic data from our society. |
topic |
Epidemiology health occupations students Hepatitis A Iran prevention vaccination |
url |
http://www.ijpvmjournal.net/article.asp?issn=2008-7802;year=2014;volume=5;issue=15;spage=208;epage=212;aulast=Saneian |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT hosseinsaneian hepatitisaseropositivityamongfirstyearstudentsofthemedicaluniversityinisfahaniran AT hamidrahimi hepatitisaseropositivityamongfirstyearstudentsofthemedicaluniversityinisfahaniran AT parisashoaei hepatitisaseropositivityamongfirstyearstudentsofthemedicaluniversityinisfahaniran |
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