Prevalence and Risk Factors of Helicobacter Pylori in Khat Chewers , Hodeidah , Yemen

Abstract

Background.: Helicobacter pylori (H .pylori) infection is associated with several upper gastrointestinal disorders, also the most important etiological factor responsible for the duodenal and gastric ulcer and gastric cancer.  Objective: The aim of the present study to determine the prevalence of H. pylori among the khat chewing adults in Hodeidah, Yemen. Methodology: : A cross- sectional community-based study was conducted at Center of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (CTMED) , Authority of   AL-Thawrah Public Hospital Hodeidah, Yemen. The study included 400 khat chewer participants between May and August 2019.  217 were males and 183 females, their age ranged from 20 to 60 years. H. pylori was diagnosed by IgG Enzyme Linkage Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) The Statistical Process for Social Sciences (SPSS)  was used for data entry and analyses. Results: Out of these 400 khat chewers participants, 206 were found positive for H .pylori, giving a prevalence of 51.5%. while its prevalence among male and female participants was 53.4 % and 46.6% respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was high among khat chewers in Hodeidah Yemen. Thus, health education on the transmission routes and risk factors of H. pylori infection is underscored in this line to reduce the burden of the disease