Prevalence and associated risk factors of Helicobacter pylori among residents of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) FCT, Abuja.

Helicobacter pylori is a spiral-shaped gram-negative microaerophilic bacterium presently affecting approximately one half of the world population and causing chronic gastritis. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and associated risk factors among residents of AMAC, FCT, Abuja. A total of 422 participants were recruited. Socio-demographic characteristics of each participant and potential risk factors were collected with a structured questionnaire. Faecal samples were collected for detection of Helicobacter pylori antigen using a one-step H. pylori antigen test device. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 25.0. The result showed that out of 422 screened for the infection, 214 (50.7%) were infected with H. pylori. Female were the more infected (53.0%) than male (47.0%). Age groups mostly affected were those in 31-40 years (58.5%), 41-50 years (57.3%), and 21-30 years (54.3%). The analysis of the data showed that informal education (p = 0.001), unemployment (p = 0.001), drinking pipe –borne water (p = 0.011), living in crowded room (p = 0.011), consumption of food from vendor (p = 0.001), frequent use of NSAIDs (p = 0.012), eating raw vegetable and unwashed fruits (p = 0.035) and experience of gastric- related symptoms (p = 0.008) were found to be risk factors associated with H. pylori infection. Gender (p = 0.155), washing hands before meals (p = 0.143), smoking (p = 0.320) and family history (p = 0.317) were not significantly associated with H. pylori. There is need for increased public awareness on H. pylori infection.