Seroprevelance of Helicobacter pylori Infection among Students of Bingham University, Karu in North-Central Nigeria

Helicobacter pylori infection occurs worldwide, though the burden differs greatly between countries and within populations. Studies have shown that Helicobacter pylori infection is higher in developing countries, including Nigeria and among populations of low socio-economic status. The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection amongst students of Bingham University, Karu, Nassarawa State, Nigeria. A total of 565 blood samples were collected from students with their consents after completing a self-administered questionnaire. Each blood sample was spun for 5 minutes at 1000 rpm to get the serum, which was used to determine the presence of H. pylori antibody using a Helicobacter pylori test cassette. Of the 565 students screened, 31 were found to be positive, giving a prevalence of 5.5% (95%CI=3.6-7.4). Prevalence among the female students was higher at 6.3% in contrast to the male 4.5%, though this difference was not statistically significant (chi-square=0.904, P-value=0.34). Students aged 26-30 years showed the highest prevalence of 8.8% above 4.2%, 5.6% of the age ranges 15-20 and 21-25 years, respectively. Seropositivity of H. pylori increased with students’ year of study, with 100 Level having 9.3%, followed by 6.3% in 200 level. The 300 and 400 Levels had 5.8% and 2.5, respectively. Also, the students who were knowledgeable about the infection and those who were not had 15.7% and 3.2% seroprevalence, respectively. The low prevalence of the infection obtained in this study did not show sex or age differencesand could be as a result of the good sanitary living conditions or good feeding habits of the students. It is recommended that infected students should eat at regular intervals, obtain adequate treatment after stool analysis to confirm the infection, and also practice good sanitary habits. The school authority should keep on improving the living conditions of the students as this will enhance lower prevalence or total elimination of the infection.