title: Hepatitis A seropositivity among newly admitted medical students of Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Hamedan: A seroprevalence study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health science students are at an increased risk of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection even under accidental infection. The aims of this study were to assess the seroprevalence of HAV in 1(st) year medical students and to determine the risk factors of HAV vaccination program among this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in autumn 2010. A total of 1028 newly admitted medical students in Isfahan, Kermanshah and Hamedan were included in the study. Participant data were obtained through predesigned data collection sheets. A serum sample was obtained for serologic testing for the presence of IgG anti-HAV using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square and logistic regression tests were performed for statistical analysis and P < 0.05 was considered as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of HAV was detected in Isfahan, Hamedan, and Kermanshah newly admitted students 67.5%, 79.2%, and 50.6% respectively. There were significant relations between anti-HAV (IgG) positivity in drinking water and medical students provinces (P < 0.001, RR = 0.58 and 0.65 respectively). The household size did not significantly influence the anti-HAV (IgG) positivity in studied subjects (P = 0.09, RR = 1.26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that more than one-third of the medical students in all three faculties were seronegative for IgG anti-HAV and hence at an increased risk of developing HAV infection as a result of occupational exposure. Therefore, we suggest students in a health care set up should undergo vaccination against HAV after prevaccination immunity screening.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Bahareh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vakili
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Behrooz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ataei
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janghorbani
authors.affiliation: Nosocomial Infections Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khorvash
authors.affiliation: Nosocomial Infections Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shoaei
authors.affiliation: Acquired Immunodeficiency Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yaran
keywords: Hepatitis A virus infection; medical students; seroprevalence