Helicobacter pylori infection prevalence and risk factors among pregnant women in Tamale metropolis of Ghana

Helicobacter pylori infection (HPI) in pregnant women may inform the risk of some maternal disorders. This study investigated the prevalence of H. pylori and associated risk factors among pregnant women in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), from November 2022 to April 2023. A total of 501 pregnant women responded to a structured questionnaire investigating the risk factors associated with HPI. The one-step rapid chromatographic immunoassay was used for H. pylori antigen detection in stool specimens of pregnant women. The association between HPI and risk factors were examined using logistic regression. Among the 501 pregnant women who took part in this study, 142 tested positive for H. pylori, hence a prevalence of 28%. Ethnicity was associated with HPI among pregnant women (aOR 4.12, CI 1.13–14.98, P = 0.03). Environmental risk factors significantly associated with HPI among pregnant women were keeping pets at home (aOR 1.92, 95% CI 1.05–3.51, P = 0.03) and rearing livestock at home (aOR 1.64, 95% CI 1.05–2.57, P < 0.01). Moreover, moderate anemia as a pregnancy complication was significantly associated with mothers who tested positive for H. pylori (aOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.23–4.35, P < 0.01). The study has demonstrated a relatively high prevalence of HPI among pregnant women in the Tamale Metropolis. Factors associated with HPI were ethnicity, rearing pets, rearing livestock, and moderate anemia.