Abstract
Background: Health science students are at increased risk of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection even under accidental infection. The occurrence of HAV infection is routinely diagnosed serologically by detection of specific anti-HAV in a serum sample. Hepatitis A infections in developing countries are substantially underestimated because HAV infections in young children are mostly asymptomatic and therefore unrecognized
Aim: The study aims to determine the seroprevalence of HAV-IgG antibody among medical students to assess the prevalence of acquired immunity to HAV infection.
Methods: A cross‑sectional study was conducted among 1styear medical students. Information was collected by pretested structured questionnaire. The anti-HAV-IgG antibodies was assessed, serological results were then added to questionnaire chart of all participants.
Results: The seropositivity of HAV (anti-HAV IgG antibodies) in newly admitted students was 88 (94.6%). Medical student's residence, gender, the household size, the source of drinking water, availability of toilet and individual or family history of hepatitis did not significantly influence the anti-HAV (IgG) positivity in studied subjects (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Our results indicate that majority of the medical students were seropositive for IgG anti-HAV and had acquired immunity to HAV infection and hence at a decreased risk of developing HAV infection as a result of occupational exposure.
Keywords: Seroprevalence, hepatitis A virus, Anti-HAV IgG, Medical students, Yemen.
Abdulsalam M. Al-Mekdad1*, Mohammed Q. Salah1, Mohammed H. Al-dholae1, Khalil I. Al-Shakhab1, Omar S. Belfaqih1, Ahmed N. Alareeq2
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