Magnitude of Helicobacter pylori among Dyspeptic Patients Attending at University of Gondar Hospital, Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection ispredominantly acquired in childhood from family members. Theinfection can cause dypepepsia, chronic and acute gastritis andgastric cancer. Dyspepsia is the most common illness in theEthiopian population visiting outpatient department of healthfacilities, and it has also been associated with H.pylori infection.The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of H.pylori andits associated factors among dyspeptic patients who visitedUniversity of Gondar Hospital Outpatient Department.MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 354 dyspeptic patients. Asystematic random sampling technique was employed to selectstudy participants. Data were collected by using structuredquestionnaire via face-to-face interview. H.pylori infection wasdiagnosed using stool antigen test method. The data were enteredinto Epi info version 3.5.3 and transferred to Statistical Packagefor Social Sciences version 20. Both Bivariable and multivariablebinary logistic regression analyses were performed to see the effectof independent variables on the dependent variable.RESULT: Of the total study participants, 201(56.8%), 195(55.1%)and 182(51.4%) were married, urban residents and females,respectively. The overall magnitude of H.pylori infection was37.6%. In bivariable logistic regression analysis, sex and maritalstatus were significantly associated with H.pylori infection, but inmultivariable logistic regression analysis only marital status wassignificantly associated with H.pylori infection.CONCLUSION: The magnitude of H.pylori infection is highindicating that it is a public health problem in the study to area.According to this study, none of the variables were significantlyassociated with H.pylori infection. Hence, effective preventive,control and screening strategies need to be designed to reduce theburden of the disease.