Prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori Infection Among Patients Attending St Joseph Hospital in Ogobia Otukpo Benue State

Helicobacter pylori infection is the most common chronic bacterial infection around the world and the major aetiological factor in chronic gastric carcinoma and gastric mucosal associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. This study was aimed at screening patients in Ogobia, Otukpo, Benue State for Helicobacter pylori antibodies. Three milliliters, (3ml) of blood sample was collected from each of the 100 volunteered participants using a plain vacuum tube and syringe. Blood was allowed to clot and centrifuge at 3000 revolution per minute (rpm) for 10 minutes to obtain serum. The serum was separated into a new plane vacuum tube and was stored at 4oC prior laboratory examination. The separated serum was then tested for Helicobacter pylori antibodies using latex agglutination test kits (Palmtec Rapid Diagnostic Test Kit, UK).Other information concerning demography and associated risk factors were obtained with the aid of structured questionnaire. Data were entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and categorical variables were compared using Chi-square. The overall seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori antibodies recorded in this study was 47.0%, with slightly higher infection (47.2%) in female subjects than their male counterparts who recorded 46.8% of infection. Subjects between the ages of 30 – 39 years had higher rate of infection with seropositivity of 53.8% while the least rate of infection (28.6%) was recorded among subjects aged 50 years and above. The rate of infection was higher in married subjects (51.3%) while the least was recorded in subjects who were widows/divorced. The present study revealed no statistically significant difference in distribution of Helicobacter pylori infection among gender, age, marital status and ethnicity. Based on the associated risk factors, contact with domestic animals was the major determinant factor for contracting H. pyloriin this study while consumption of raw vegetables, poultry products and education about H. pylori and its prevention were not statistically significant. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Ogobia, Otukpo, Benue state is high and this finding have confirmed the endemicity of this infection in the study area.Medical practitioners should consider abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, loss of appetite as associated symptoms of Helicobacter pylori infection.