Individual and household correlates of Helicobacter pylori infection among Young Ethiopian children in Ziway, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Investigating distinct individual-and household-level risk factors for acquiring Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection can inform disease prevention efforts and implicate possible routes of transmission. This study determined the magnitude of H. pylori infection among schoolchildren in Ziway, central Ethiopia and identified personal and household correlates of H. pylori infection in young Ethiopian children. Methods: A total of 434 schoolchildren participated in this cross-sectional study. Infection status was assessed using antigen and antibody rapid tests. Demographic and lifestyle information was obtained from parents via an interviewer-led questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to assess the relationships between potential individual-and household-level risk factors and H. pylori infection. Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 65.7% (285/434). Of the personal variables assessed, the age group 10-14 years was found to be significantly associated with higher odds of H. pylori infection in univariate analysis (COR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.06-4.66, p = 0.03) and remained positively correlated after adjusting for confounding factors. Of the household-level factors explored, having a traditional pit or no toilet was found to be significantly associated with 3.93-fold higher odds of H. pylori infection (AOR = 3.93, 95% CI: 1.51-10.3, p = 0.01), while the presence of smokers in the household was associated with 68% lower odds of infection (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.11-0.89, p = 0.03). Conclusion: This study from a developing country provides additional evidence for older age as a personal risk factor for H. pylori infection and identifies correlations between socioeconomic and sanitation household factors and positive childhood infection status. The associations reported here support the hypothesized fecal-oralroute of transmission for H. pylori.

<b><i>Helicobacter pylori</i></b> Infection in Africa: Update of the Current Situation and Challenges

“…RUT combined with histology [86] and culture [106] has also been used in the diagnosis of HPI in Cameroon. In Ethiopia, an East African country, reports on the diagnosis of HPI are largely based on serology and SAT [87,88,[107][108][109]. On the other hand, Kenya, a neighboring country, has reports on the use of SAT [89,90], endoscopy, RUT, histol-ogy, and culture [91,110].…”

Worldwide Prevalence and Risk Factors of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children

“…A recent study performed on Ethiopian schoolchildren pointed out an H. pylori prevalence rate of 65.7% [ 59 ]. Comparable prevalence was reported by other studies from rural Ethiopia [ 60 , 61 ].…”

“…Similar to the US, older age was associated with increased odds of positive H. pylori status, with the 10–14 age group displaying a stronger association when compared to the 5–9 age group [ 59 ]. These findings support the previous results of Lin et al, who found a higher prevalence in children aged between 13–15 years, 12.3%, compared to 11% in those between 9–12 years [ 74 ].…”

Paradigm shift in the management of patients with <i>H. pylori</i> infection

“…Исследование, проведенное в Эфиопии, показало, что более старший возраст детей является фактором риска инфицирования H. py lo ri. При этом было установлено, что отсутствие традиционного туалета в 3,93 раза повышает шанс инфицирования данным микроорганизмом [19]. В последние годы в Японии отмечается снижение распространенности инфекции H. py lo ri, что по мнению исследователей связано с улучшением гигиенических условий.…”