Abstract
BACKGROUND: More than 50% of the people are infected worldwide with H. pylori which causes significant public health morbidity and mortality. The distribution is quite different from country to country. Hence, early information is very important to prevent upper gastrointestinal complications. The current study aimed to assess the magnitude of H. pylori and associated risk factors among symptomatic patients attending at Jasmin internal medicine and pediatrics specialized private clinic from August 2017 until May 2018 in Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 487 patients with upper gastrointestinal tract complaints attending at Jasmin internal medicine and pediatrics specialized private clinic from August 2017 until May 2018. Convenient sampling technique was used to enroll participants. Information regarding to risk factors was assessed using structured questionnaire. Stool samples were collected for H. pylori antigen test. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version20 statistical software and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of H. pylori among participants using stool antigen was 36.8% (n = 179/487). Regarding to family income status, those who have low monthly income were more likely to be infected with H. pylori infection (AOR = 6.056, CI 95% = 1.603-22.881, P = 0.037). In addition, families with low educational level were more likely to be infected with H. pylori infection than higher level education (AOR = 4.150, CI95% = 1.059-16.270, P = 0.041). Number of family members in the house-hold, type of toilet they used and source of drinking water were not significantly associated with H. pylori infection. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 36.8% and it was related to low income and low education levels. This finding calls for improving the socioeconomic status of the community. Moreover, further studies are needed to investigate potential risk factors for H. pylori infection.