review · BMC Gastroenterology
Helicobacter pylori infection represents a widespread cause of gastrointestinal disease across Ethiopia. An analysis combining thirty-seven studies covering 18,890 individuals estimated an overall national pooled prevalence of 52.2 percent. Regional rates showed considerable variation, ranging from 39.9 percent in Oromia to 71 percent in the Somali region. Identified factors linked to increased infection rates included the lack of hand washing after using the toilet, alcohol consumption, and the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms. Although the overall trend of infection demonstrated a downward pattern between 1990 and 2017, the national burden remains substantial. Addressing this health challenge requires targeted interventions, including appropriate eradication therapies, improved sanitation, public health education regarding bacterial transmission, behavioural changes, multi-test diagnostic screening programmes, and the establishment of gastric cancer screening policies.
Helicobacter pylori is a major driver of gastrointestinal disorders and presents long-term risks such as gastric cancer. Demonstrating that over half the surveyed population has been infected identifies a pressing public health concern. Understanding the primary behavioural risk factors and geographical hotspots helps health authorities focus sanitation resources, awareness campaigns, and targeted screening programmes where they are needed most.
The abstract does not evaluate a commercial product, but points to clear demand for diagnostic test manufacturers and pharmaceutical providers of eradication therapies. Healthcare providers and public health organisations could utilise these prevalence data to direct multi-test diagnostic tools and treatments to high-burden regions. Because this is an epidemiological meta-analysis, its role is to inform clinical screening guidelines and health procurement strategies rather than deploy an immediate technology transfer pipeline.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infections are prevalent and recognized as major cause of gastrointestinal diseases in Ethiopia. However, Studies conducted on the prevalence, risk factors and other clinical forms of H.pylori on different population and geographical areas are reporting conflicting results. Therefore, this review was conducted to estimate the pooled prevalence of H.pylori infections and associated factors in Ethiopia. METHODS: test statistics based on the random effects model. Comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA 2.0) and Review Manager (RevMan 5.3) were employed to compute the pooled prevalence and summary odds ratios of factors associated with of H.pylori infection. RESULTS: Thirty seven studies with a total of 18,890 participants were eligible and included in the analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of H.pylori infection was 52.2% (95% CI: 45.8-58.6). In the subgroup analysis by region, the highest prevalence was found in Somalia (71%; 95% CI: 32.5-92.6) and the lowest prevalence was reported in Oromia (39.9%; 95% CI: 17.3-67.7). Absence of hand washing after toilet (OR = 1.8, 95% CI; 1.19-2.72), alcohol consumption (OR = 1.34, 95% CI; 1.03-1.74) and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (OR = 2.23, 95% CI; 1.59-3.14) were associated with H.pylori infection. The trend of H.pylori infection showed a decreasing pattern overtime from 1990 to 2017 in the meta-regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H.pylori infection remains high; more than half of Ethiopians were infected. Although the trend of infection showed a decreasing pattern; appropriate use of eradication therapy, health education primarily to improve knowledge and awareness on the transmission dynamics of the bacteria, behavioral changes, adequate sanitation, population screening and diagnosis using multiple tests are required to reduce H.pylori infections. Recognizing the bacteria as a priority issue and designing gastric cancer screening policies are also recommended.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1186/s12876-018-0927-3
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
