Seroepidemiological Study of Hepatitis A in Medical Students of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in 2019

Saman Shirazinia; Navid Reza Shayan; Negin  Ghiyasi Moghaddam; Nima Ameli; Shahriar Alian; Lotfollah Davoodi

doi:10.18502/tbsrj.v3i4.7795

Saman Shirazinia Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Navid Reza Shayan Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran
Negin Ghiyasi Moghaddam Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran
Nima Ameli Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran
Shahriar Alian Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Ghaemshahr Razi Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Lotfollah Davoodi Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Ghaemshahr Razi Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/tbsrj.v3i4.7795

Keywords: Hepatitis A, Medical students, Seroepidemiology

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis A (HA) is a common infectious disease caused by the HA virus that primarily affects the liver. We need to determine the safety status and infection rate in the community. Therefore, we decided to study the Seroepidemiological of HA in medical students of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in 2019.
Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study prospectively examining anti-HAV antibodies in medical students of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in 2019. Patient demographic data, laboratory results of anti-HAV IgG and vaccination history were recorded. Four cc of blood were drawn from each student for the anti-HAV IgG test and after the test was performed. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24 software.
Results: One hundred and fifty-five students were interviewed. The mean age (standard deviation) of the students in this study was 23.81 (1.47) years. Ninety-nine (63.9%) of the students were male. Therefore, it was caused by previous infection with HAV and 120 (77.4%) cases were considered susceptible individuals whose serum anti-HAV IgG was negative. This was not seen to be statistically significant (P=0.754). According to the test, 77.4% of the predictions were correct. None of the variables of sex, age, history of underlying disease, place of residence, and history of travel had a significant effect on the incidence and positivity of anti-HAV IgG.
Conclusion: This study showed that the incidence of anti-HAV IgG was positive in 22.6% of the students, which is much lower than previous studies. This may be due to the higher level of health in this segment of the population.