Environmental Risk Factors of Helicobacter pylori Infection Among Dyspeptic Patients at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH): A Cross-Sectional Study

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a significant global health concern, linked to chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection and identify factors associated  infection rate among dyspeptic patients at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Nigeria. A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 1,106 consenting patients with ulcer symptoms who provided stool samples for H. pylori antigen testing. The prevalence rate was calculated using descriptive statistics and chi-square test was used to determine the association. Results revealed a 65.6% overall prevalence of H. pylori infection. Contaminated water and poor sanitary practices were identified as the primary risk factors, contributing to 50% and 30% of the cases, respectively. There was no significant association between H. pylori prevalence and variables such as gender, age, marital status, occupation, religion, or year of diagnosis (p>0.05). The study has shown that patient’s sociodemographics such as gender, merital status, age, occupation and year do not affcet the distribution of H. pylori infection among dyspepetic patients attending RSUTH. These findings highlight the urgent need for improved water quality and environmental sanitation to mitigate the spread of H. pylori in this population. Regular screening and public health interventions are recommended to manage and prevent further transmission of this infection.