Helicobacter pylori among patients with symptoms of gastroduodenal ulcer disease in rural Uganda

Abstract

IntroductionTo meet key millennium development goals, the rural population needs to be reached for health assessment and service delivery. Gastroduodenal ulcer disease is a common ailment affecting the health of people in Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Bwera Hospital in Kasese district of western Uganda, to establish the prevalence and predisposing factors of Helicobacter pylori among gastroduodenal ulcer disease patients.MethodsA sample of 174 patients with symptoms of gastroduodenal ulcer disease was purposively obtained. Using two laboratory test methods, the prevalence of H. pylori among these patients was determined. A structured questionnaire was administered to participants to establish their demographic background and selected aspects of their lifestyle. Finally, the results obtained by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunochromatographic rapid test (IRT) were compared.ResultsWe established the prevalence of H. pylori as 29.9% (52/174) by ELISA and 37.4% (65/174) by IRT. Cigarette smoking, poor sanitation, and lack of formal education were the significant predisposing factors with p-values <0.05. The two tests gave identical results in 87.9% of the patients.DiscussionThe prevalence of H. pylori by IRT and ELISA test methods was similar to what has been reported elsewhere in developed countries; but was lower than previously reported in developing countries including Uganda. The previous studies in Uganda were carried out in the urban population and on young children; and some used antibody-detection methods only, therefore leading to different prevalence as a result of difference in study population and methods.

An Evaluation of 605 Endoscopic Examination in a Rural Setting, Lacor Hospital in Northern Uganda

“…In our setting peasant farmers are often poor people leaving in areas with poor sanitation and most often lack formal education. Tsongo et al [13], found that poor sanitation, and lack of formal education constitute significant predisposition factors to H. Pylori infection.…”

“…The rate of gastritis in this study is higher than most other studies, for example, in a student health center study by Schroeder [15] in Scandinavia, reported overall gastritis rate of 22.1%. The risk factors for H. Pylori infection [13] tend to mirror that of gastritis. Whilst Lodenyo, Rana, Mutuma, Kabanga, Kuria et al [14] found gastritis rate of 25.8% in Kenya, 6% was reported in Ethiopia [6] and 12.6% in Uganda [9].…”

“…In Uganda Okello [9] found duodenal ulcer in 14.8% of adolescents and gastritis in 12.6%, duodenal scarring (5.2%), bile reflux (5.2%) duodenitis (4.4%). In their EGDS series, the prevalence of H. pylori was found to be 37.4% in Uganda and cigarette smoking, poor sanitation, and lack of formal education were the predisposing factors [13]. However there is need to evaluate endoscopy in a rural post conflict community and associate the finding with patient presentation in clinical practice.…”

Comparison of rapid cassette test and micro ELISA method for Helicobacter pylori diagnosis in patients with gastric complaints

“…Of the 224 patients included in the study, 142 (63.4%) were female and 82 (36.6%) were male. In one similar study, Tsongo et al [17] measured serum samples from 174 patients with gastroduodenal ulcer symptoms, using rapid diagnostic test, and stool samples of the same patients using ELISA method, and they compared the two methods. Accordingly, the prevalence of H. pylori was found as 29.9% (52/174) with ELISA method and 37.4% (65/174) with the rapid test, respectively.…”

A 10 years trend of peptic ulcer disease and other gastrointestinal disorders in northern Uganda

“…In India, by 2013, a study reported that acute or chronic gastritis are caused by risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, spicy food, drugs, stress, swallowed foreign bodies and bacterial infection, mainly Helicobacter pylori 15. Cigarette smoking, poor sanitation, and lack of formal education are known significant predisposing factors to Helicobacter pylori infection 16. Furthermore, gastritis itself impedes and make it more difficult to eradicate the bacteria, and the difficulty increases with the severity of Helicobacter pylori 17 Our community in the north of Uganda has remained underdeveloped, with poverty level of 43.3% compared to the national average of 19.7% 18. A combination or all these factors are perhaps increasing the rate of gastritis in our community.…”