Abstract
BACKGROUND: To better understand the factors associated with Helicobacter pylori infection, it is important to quantify the prevalence of H. pylori and identify the clinical and demographic characteristics of individuals with the infection. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study 369 participants underwent a structured questionnaire, urease breath test, and endoscopy to determine their H. pylori status. RESULTS: The frequency of H. pylori in the sample was 27.64%, and erosive antral gastritis, gastric ulcers, and duodenal ulcers were found to be significantly associated with infection. However, no differences were found in social status, family size, or shared utensil use between individuals with and without the infection. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that H. pylori is a significant risk factor for gastrointestinal conditions.