Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Helicobacter Pylori Infection among Patients Complaint Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Symptoms

Aim: This study sought to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection and its associated factors among patients’ complaints upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms who attended Spinghar Momand Curative and Teaching Hospital, Jalalabad city, Afghanistan. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study was performed among patients’ complaint upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms between September 2022 and January 2023. The diagnosis of H. pylori infection was done using antigen rapid stool test and data was analyzed through SPSS version 20. The study included 122 patients. Results: The study found that the overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 71.3 %. The prevalence for females was 47 (54 %), males 40 (46 %), 18-25 years old was 32 (26.2 %), 25-50 years old 69 (56.6 %), above 50 years old 21 (17.2 %), urban residence 24 (28 %), rural residence 63 (72.4 %), married (77 %), unmarried 20 (23 %). Moreover, for good, medium, poor income were 11 (12.6 %), 48 (55.2 %) and 28 (32.2 %) respectively. In addition, the prevalence for 2-5, 5-10 and above 10 members of family were 6 (6.9 %), 26 (29.9 %) and 55 (63.2 %) respectively. Additionally, the association of H. pylori infection with hygienic and unhygienic condition was (31 %) and (69 %). Furthermore, the specific prevalence for pipe was 6 (6.9 %), well 63 (42.4 %), Tank 12 (13.8 %), stream 4 (4.6 %) and River water 2 (2.3 %). Remarkably, most of the patients have epigastric pain as well as diabetes and blood group have positive relationship with H. pylori infection, but there was no association with BMI categories. Conclusion: Prevalence of H. pylori infection was associated with age, marital status, hand washing, family income, living place, family members, drinking water, diabetes and blood group, but no association was found between infection and BMI categories. Recommendation: The study recommend that at the health sector level, strategies must be developed to ensure health status. Medical professionals must pay attention to epigastric pain and diabetes among the clinical features of the disease. People in the community should pay attention to the use of drinking water and hygiene.