A study of prevalence and risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection among adults in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

Helicobacter pylori is known to increase the risk of developing gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric adenocarcinoma, and gastric lymphoma in adults across the globe. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection and its associated risk factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted among the adult population in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. A total of 259 subjects over the age of 18 who visited the hospitals were included in the study from 2018 to 2020. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was utilized to determine H. pylori seropositivity. A standardized questionnaire was administered to all study participants through face-to-face interviews. The H. pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody data were analyzed using the Chi-square test. The prevalence of anti-H. pylori IgG antibody was present in 40.02% of adults. Among the studied variables, the following risk factors were significantly associated with the presence of anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies: male gender (P<0.043), level of education (P<0.025), history of gastrointestinal diseases (P<0.001), smoking status (P<0.001), and more siblings (P<0.001). This study supports the hypothesis that H. pylori infection in adults is highly related to poor hygiene and smoking status, low level of education, and crowded conditions. Therefore, in order to reduce the prevalence of H. pylori infection among adults, it is crucial to implement effective strategies aimed at enhancing fundamental sanitary conditions, as well as improving educational and socioeconomic status.