title: Prevalence and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in healthy schoolchildren.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Data regarding the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and its potential risk factors among schoolchildren from the Middle East is scarce.
  
  
  METHODS
  An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to investigate H. pylori status in four groups of children: The first and second groups, 50 children each (25 boys, 25 girls) included children from high socioeconomic class (group 1 = 6 years old; group 2 = 9 years old). The third and fourth groups were sex- and age-matched, but from low socioeconomic class. To evaluate the association between the seroprevalence of H. pylori and selected risk factors, odds ratios (crude and adjusted) were calculated using multiple regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall seroprevalence rate was 55.5%. Seropositivity was 42%, 52%, 60%, and 68% for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Age and sex were not significantly associated with H. pylori seropositivity. In the final logistic regression model, which was adjusted for age and sex, the following risk factors were found to be significantly associated with seropositivity: living in rural areas (P = 0.015), poor sanitation (P < 0.001), overcrowding (P = 0.014), low maternal educational level (P = 0.010) and low socioeconomic status (P = 0.011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of H. pylori infection in Jordanian schoolchildren is high, suggesting that most acquisition occurs before the age of 6 years. The seroprevalence for H. pylori increases with social deprivation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, King Abdullah University Hospital, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. banihani60@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kamal E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bani-Hani
authors.forename: Nawaf J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Shatnawi
authors.forename: Saleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Qaderi
authors.forename: Yousef S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Khader
authors.forename: Bayan K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Bani-Hani
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors