Prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori Infection in People Living With Hiv

Helicobacter pylori previously known as Campylobacter pylori is a gram negative microaerophilic, spiral bacterium that is usually found in the stomach. Most times this infection is asymptomatic however it also leads to diseases gastritis (stomach inflammation), or ulcer of the stomach or the first part of the small intestine(duodenum) and in rare cases, cancer. At least, 50% of the world's population is infected with the bacterium. Nigeria has a prevalence rate of 87% with the northern part showing the highest prevalence. Helicobacter pylori infection and HIV Co-infection have been associated with increased gastric complications and even some times progresses to cause stomach cancer. Ninety-three HIV samples from the health centre in Ogoni, Rivers State, Nigeria, were analyzed and 37 samples tested positive to Helicobacter pylori, a prevalence of 39.8%. 50 males and 43 females which the male population recorded a higher prevalence of 62.2% and the female population recorded positive cases with a lesser prevalence of 37.8%. Patients from 31-40 years recorded the highest prevalence of 40.5% while patients from 61-70 years had the least prevalence of 0.0%. The married population recorded the highest prevalence of 54.1% while the divorced population recorded the least prevalence of 0.0%. The population with secondary school education had the most prevalence with 67.6% while the graduated had the least prevalence with 8.1%. This study has shown that HIV/H.Pylori co-infection rate is high ((39.8) among HIV patients in Ogoni.