High incidence of oesophagus and stomach cancers in the Bale highlands of south Ethiopia

H. pylori-infection and antibody immune response in a rural Tanzanian population

“…The authors attributed differences in Th1 or Th2-dominant responses across the low vs. mountainous regions to differences the prevalence of helminth infections and suggested that parasitic infection may modify H. Pylori -induced gastric cancer risk in Columbia. Thus, those studies and ours lend support to the hypothesis that Th1/2 immunity modulated by parasite infections may influence the risk of H. pylori -associated gastric cancer in diverse environments [ 15 , 28 , 35 , 36 ].…”

“…Conversely, gastric cancer is relatively more frequent on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, where it contributes ~15% of malignancies [ 34 ]. Moreover, there are similar reports of higher gastric cancer rates in mountainous or dry areas elsewhere in Africa [ 15 , 35 , 36 ]. The variation in relative frequency of gastric cancer in the context of similar H. pylori prevalence, similar access to medical care, and similar life expectancy has led to the hypothesis that environmental co-factors, perhaps diet (nitrates or fresh fruits and vegetables), are important.…”

A minimum estimate for the incidence of gastric cancer in Eastern Kenya

“…Relative frequency data from the 1950s and 1960s suggest that the probable high incidence in these areas is long-standing (Cook and Burkitt, 1971) and that it extended also into Burundi and neighbouring Zaire as well as Tanzania. Gastric carcinoma has also been noted to be relatively common in an endoscopic series from the Bale Highlands of Southern Ethiopia (Madebo et al, 1994). It has been suggested that the increased incidence in highland regions may be due to volcanic soils (Kitinya et al, 1988) or to an interaction between Helicobacter pylori, the immune response and malaria (Blaser, 1993) but the effect might also be the result of better soils and climate at higher altitude promoting improved socio-economic status, and leading to better access to health care.…”

Spatiotemporal Distribution, Time to Treatment Outcome Clustering and Determinants of Esophageal Cancer in Ethiopia, a Scoping Study

“…Only 5 of the studies (29.41%) obtained primary data, 53 , 58 , 59 , 62 , 65 whereas most studies (58.82%) relied on secondary data. 49 - 52 , 54 - 57 , 61 , 64 Of the investigations, 2 (11.76%) gathered both secondary and primary data. 60 , 63 Six of the studies were case-control studies, of which half were matched case control studies, 49 , 53 , 58 and the other half were unmatched case control studies 51 , 54 , 60 ; 3 studies were cross-sectional 57 , 64 , 65 ; 2 studies were cohort studies, 1 of which was prospective, 59 the other retrospective 55 ; 1 study was qualitative phenomenology 62 ; and for 4 studies, a clear study design was not reported.…”

“…60 , 63 Six of the studies were case-control studies, of which half were matched case control studies, 49 , 53 , 58 and the other half were unmatched case control studies 51 , 54 , 60 ; 3 studies were cross-sectional 57 , 64 , 65 ; 2 studies were cohort studies, 1 of which was prospective, 59 the other retrospective 55 ; 1 study was qualitative phenomenology 62 ; and for 4 studies, a clear study design was not reported. 50 , 52 , 56 , 61 The studies were carried out in Addis Ababa City (ie, on patients from Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), 52 - 55 , 59 , 63 - 65 Mexico Higher Clinic (MHC), 53 , 54 the Adera Higher Clinic (AHC), 51 , 53 , 54 6 health facilities from Addis Ababa, 60 and Addis Ababa Cancer Registry (AACR) (three governmental hospitals and 12 private facilities submitted cancer cases) 61 ) (64.71%), 51 - 55 , 59 - 61 , 63 - 65 Yirga Alem (on patients from Sidama Regional Hospital) (5.88%), 50 Arsi zone (patients from Asella Teaching and Referral Hospital and others) (23.53%), 49 , 57 , 58 , 62 and 10 referral hospitals f...…”