Prevalence of hepatitis B and C among students of health colleges in Saudi Arabia

This study determined the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitisC virus (anti-HCV) among students at health colleges in Saudi Arabia from 2000 to 2007. Data were obtained from student records. A total of 16 570 (9852 male and 6718 female) students were included. Their mean age was 21.years and they were divided in 2 age groups of 18–21 and 22–30 years. Residence (rural or urban) was recorded. The prevalence of HBsAg for males and females was 0.17% and 0.78% respectively in the 18–21-yearoldsand 0.39% and 0.90% in the 22–30-year-olds. The prevalence of anti-HCV for males and females was0.03% and 0.07% respectively in the 18–21-year-olds and 0.31% and 0.40% in the 22–30-year-olds. There was a statistically significant relationship between age and rural/urban background and HBsAg and anti-HCV positivity (P 0.005).