title: Prevalence and Risk Factors for Helicobacter Pylori Infection among Healthy Inhabitants in Northern Jakarta, Indonesia
abstract: Background: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in Indonesia has been reported to be
  exceedingly low. The purpose of our study was to confirm whether this is the case in Northern Jakarta using a sensitive
  13C-urea breath test (UBT), and to examine any associations with lifestyle/environment factors and potential routes
  of transmission. Methods: We recruited a total of 196 subjects from a low-income community in Northern Jakarta,
  Indonesia, data from 193 who completed a questionnaire about their lifestyle/environment and had UBT being included
  as the final. Odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for sex and age with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a
  logistic regression model. Results: The overall H. pylori infection rate was 15.0% (95%CI, 10.3-20.9), with variation
  among Javanese (9.1%, total=77), Buginese (40.0%, 35), Betawi (9.1%, 33), Sundanese (3.7%, 27), and Batak (40.0%,
  5). On multivariate analysis, the ORs for intake of soybean milk, cucumber more than once a week, infrequent hand
  washing practice before meals, and alcohol consumption were 0.10 (95%CI: 0.01-0.97), 6.61 (95%CI: 1.87-23.3), 4.10
  (95%CI: 1.15-14.6), and 61.9 (95%CI: 1.67-2300.8), respectively. Rates for Buginese (OR=7.84; 95%CI: 1.82-33.8)
  and Batak (OR=20.1; 95%CI: 1.90-213.2) were significantly higher than for Javanese. Conclusions: The H. pylori
  infection rate in this study was relatively low, in line with previous studies. Regarding ethnicity factors, Buginese and
  Batak reported eating food using fingers more frequently than Javanese, Betawi, and Sundanese. Our study indicated
  that person-person transmission is possible in this low prevalence area. The low infection rates for H. pylori among
  Javanese, Betawi, and Sundanese ethnics could be partly due to their sanitary practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Nagoya Kyoritsu Hospital, Nagoya, Japan. Email:ygoto67@mx5.canvas.ne.jp
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Ari Fahrial
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Syam
authors.forename: Nikko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Darnindro
authors.forename: Florentina Carolin Puspita
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Hapsari
keywords: H. pylori; infection; Indonesia