title: Seroepidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection in a Jamaican community.
abstract: We researched epidemiologic associations between environmental and demographic factors and prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in a suburban Jamaican community. Using a clustered sampling technique, 22 domestic yards enclosing 60 separate households were randomly selected from a local community. All household members (n = 346) were invited to participate following informed consent; the overall compliance rate was 58.9%. A commercial enzyme immunoassay (HMáCAP) was used to detect IgG antibodies raised against H. pylori. Environmental and demographic information was obtained by questionnaire. The seroprevalence of H. pylori was 69.9% (n = 202). Analysis of the independent variables revealed three major components: Component 1 described, collectively, good personal hygiene and sanitation, indoor water supply and absence of straying animals in the peridomestic area; Component 2 included older age, good personal hygiene and large yard size; Component 3 the presence of domestic animals (cats and dogs) and, again, large yard size. These three complexes explained 42.2% of the variability in the data set. Logistic regression showed that Components 2 and 3 were independently associated with H. pylori seropositivity, indicating that a combination of demographic, environmental and zoonotic factors is involved in the spread of H. pylori infections at the tropical community level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The University of West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lindo
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lyn-Sue
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012499:Sanitation; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013383:Suburban Population