International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-7802002015062320812EN20150623<strong>Background:</strong> Students of medicine are prone to contact with various infectious agents such as hepatitis A virus&nbsp; (HAV). Infection with HAV may lead to morbidity and in rare cases, mortality. We evaluated the seroprevalence of HAV among 1st‑year medical students to assess the necessity of vaccination/preventive immunoglobulin in this at‑risk population.<br /><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross‑sectional study was carried out in 2007 among 403&nbsp; 1st‑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&nbsp; (Diagnostic Bioprobes, Dia‑Pro, Milan, Italy).<br /><strong>Results:</strong> Among the 403 students invited to attend the study, 361 ones&nbsp; (89.5%) agreed to participate&nbsp; (61.1% female), with a mean age of 19.8&nbsp; &plusmn; &nbsp; 2.6&nbsp; years. Of the participants, 272&nbsp; (75.3%) students were seropositive. Seropositivity was not associated with gender&nbsp; (P&nbsp; = 0.222), but was associated with the number of family members&nbsp; (P&nbsp; &lt; 0.001), residence place&nbsp; (P&nbsp; = 0.003), age&nbsp; (P&nbsp; &lt; 0.001), and the type of drinking water&nbsp; (P&nbsp; = 0.008).<br /><strong>Conclusions:</strong> 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.<br /><strong>Keywords:</strong> Epidemiology, health occupations students, Hepatitis A, Iran, prevention, vaccinationhttp://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/1543http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/1543/1832