title: Prevalence and risk factors of H. pylori from dyspeptic patients in northwest Ethiopia: a hospital based cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and infection with H. pylori is considered essential for its development. Helicobacter pylori infects more than 50% of the world's population with higher prevalence in developing countries than developed countries. The prevalence of H. pylori varies in different societies and geographical locations. The objectives of this study were to estimate the seroprevalence and determine the risk factors of H. pylori infection in dyspeptic patents in Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study involving 209 dyspeptic patients was carried out from February 15 to April 30, 2013. Five to ten ml venous blood was collected from each dyspeptic patient and analyzed for detection of Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin (IgG). The socio-demographic characteristic, hygienic practices, alcohol consumption, sources of drinking water and types of latrine were also obtained with a pre-tested questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori was 72.2%. There was statistically significant difference in the prevalence of H. pylori among age groups (p=0.02). Seroprevalence of H. pylori was higher in those patients who used unprotected surface water (76.4%) than those with access to piped tap water (65.9%). There was also statistically significant differences in prevalence of H. pylori with the habit of hand washing before meal (p=0.01) and alcohol consumption (p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of H. pylori was high in the study area and increased with age of dyspeptic patients. Alcohol consumption and the type of drinking water are risk factors that have associations with the prevalence of H. pylori. Molecular epidemiological techniques can show a true picture of H. pylori and improvement in the drinking water quality is recommended.
authors: Department of Biology, Science College, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia E-mail : mulugetanig@gmail.com.
authors: Wubejig
authors: W
authors: Abebaw
authors: Mulugeta
authors: M
authors: Kibret
authors: Bayeh
authors: B
authors: Abera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D060766:Drinking Water; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D007074:Immunoglobulin G