Prevalence and Sociodemographic Determinants of <i>Helicobacter pylori </i>Infection Among Peptic Ulcer Patients

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection remains a pressing public health issue in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with sub-Saharan Africa carrying a significant share of the global burden. Despite its prevalence, region-specific data are still lacking across many parts of Nigeria. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of H. pylori infection and examine its association with sociodemographic and clinical factors among patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano. A total of 151 patients diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease were enrolled. Infection was identified using the Urea Breath Test (UBT) and confirmed through gastric biopsy. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected via structured questionnaires and analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Differences were considered meaningful when p-values fell below conventional thresholds for significance. The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 58.94%. Females showed a slightly higher rate (31.8%) than males (27.2%), though this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.502). The highest infection rates were observed among individuals aged 21–30 (15.2%) and 31–40 years (15.3%). Ethnicity emerged as a notable factor, with a significant association observed (p = 0.027). This was largely driven by the high prevalence among the Hausa ethnic group (43.0%), which also constituted much of the study population, suggesting that regional and cultural factors may be influencing infection patterns. In contrast, marital status (p = 0.578), education level (p = 0.796), and occupation (p = 0.800) did not show meaningful associations, although those with tertiary education (27.8%) and employed individuals (22.5%) had relatively higher infection rates. Clinically, the presence of epigastric pain (p = 0.035), use of NSAIDs (p = 0.031), and proton pump inhibitors (p = 0.049) were all significantly linked to H. pylori infection. Other symptoms, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption did not show any clear connection. The study reveals a high prevalence of H. pylori infection among Nigerian patients, especially younger adults and those on specific medications, emphasizing the need for focused screening and more precise diagnostic methods beyond general symptom-based assessments.