Anti-HAV seroprevalence in Turkish military personnel and its relation with demographic properties

Hanefi Cem GÜL

Article Details

Anti-HAV seroprevalence in Turkish military personnel and its relation with demographic properties

Authors:

Hanefi Cem GÜL

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2009 Vol.39 Issue 5, pp.795-802

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2009

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000755344

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6165

pISSN:

1300-0144

Keywords:

Abstract:

 

Aim: Turkey is a middle endemic area in terms of Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) infection. Previous studies in Turkey showed that most residents had been infected with HAV by the second decade of life. In this study we aimed to detect the anti-HAV seroprevalence rate in Turkish military personnel and its relation with demographic properties.  Materials and methods: Randomly selected 1049 military personnel were enrolled in the study. All were male and their average age was 24.97 ± 6.48 (Range: 20-50) years. A questionnaire about their demographic properties was administered to and informed consent forms were obtained from each subject. Statistical analysis was performed with SSPS 10.0 software (SSPS, Inc, Chicago, Ill., USA). Differences were considered significant when P  0.05).   Of these 1049 subjects, 67.2% were married. Of the anti-HAV-IgG positive subjects, 91.6% were married whereas 81.8% of the anti-HAV-IgG negative subjects were married (P < 0.01). Being a villager was observed as a risk factor for HAV infection and HAV endemicity in Marmara and Karadeniz regions was significantly lower than that in the other regions. The educational level of the subjects and also their parents were found to have an effect on anti-HAV seropositivity. As the educational level of the subjects and their parents increased, the anti-HAV IgG seropositivity decreased (P < 0.01).   Conclusion: The results of our study reveal that HAV exposure may increase due to risk factors, such as socioeconomic and infrastructural problems, personal hygiene, and sources of water and food. Improvement in these factors will lead to fewer exposures to HAV.

 

Aim: Turkey is a middle endemic area in terms of Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) infection. Previous studies in Turkey showed that most residents had been infected with HAV by the second decade of life. In this study we aimed to detect the anti-HAV seroprevalence rate in Turkish military personnel and its relation with demographic properties.  Materials and methods: Randomly selected 1049 military personnel were enrolled in the study. All were male and their average age was 24.97 ± 6.48 (Range: 20-50) years. A questionnaire about their demographic properties was administered to and informed consent forms were obtained from each subject. Statistical analysis was performed with SSPS 10.0 software (SSPS, Inc, Chicago, Ill., USA). Differences were considered significant when P  0.05).   Of these 1049 subjects, 67.2% were married. Of the anti-HAV-IgG positive subjects, 91.6% were married whereas 81.8% of the anti-HAV-IgG negative subjects were married (P < 0.01). Being a villager was observed as a risk factor for HAV infection and HAV endemicity in Marmara and Karadeniz regions was significantly lower than that in the other regions. The educational level of the subjects and also their parents were found to have an effect on anti-HAV seropositivity. As the educational level of the subjects and their parents increased, the anti-HAV IgG seropositivity decreased (P < 0.01).   Conclusion: The results of our study reveal that HAV exposure may increase due to risk factors, such as socioeconomic and infrastructural problems, personal hygiene, and sources of water and food. Improvement in these factors will lead to fewer exposures to HAV.

Article Details

Anti-HAV seroprevalence in Turkish military personnel and its relation with demographic properties

Authors:

Hanefi Cem GÜL

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2009 Vol.39 Issue 5, pp.795-802

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2009

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000755344

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6165

pISSN:

1300-0144

Key words: Anti-HAV seroprevalence

demographic properties

military personnel

Turkey

Issues

Article Details

Anti-HAV seroprevalence in Turkish military personnel and its relation with demographic properties

Authors: Hanefi Cem GÜL

Publisher: TUBITAK

Journal: Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2009 Vol.39 Issue 5, pp.795-802

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 4/2009

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2000755344

Frequency: Bimonthly

eISSN: 1303-6165

pISSN: 1300-0144

Key words: Anti-HAV seroprevalence

demographic properties

military personnel

Turkey

Issues

Authors:

Hanefi Cem GÜL

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2009 Vol.39 Issue 5, pp.795-802

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2009

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2000755344

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6165

pISSN:

1300-0144