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https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/14817
SEROPREVALENCE AND POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS FOR HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION IN BRAZILIAN CHILDREN
Author
Affilliation
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Federal University of Pernambuco. Health Science Center. Recife, PE, Brasil
Fundação Gonçalo Moniz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Federal University of Bahia, Community Health Institute. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Federal University of Pernambuco. Health Science Center. Recife, PE, Brasil
Fundação Gonçalo Moniz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Federal University of Bahia, Community Health Institute. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Abstract
Background: Helicobacter pylori infection has been proved to be of great relevance
to public health in unindustrialized countries, especially in low socioeconomic
groups. Poor hygiene, deficient sanitation, and crowded
conditions have been reported as risk factors for this infection. In this work,
we investigated whether social and demographic characteristics were associated
with anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies in 1104 children aged 4–11 years old
from Salvador, a large city located in northeastern Brazil.
Methods: Standardized questionnaires were used to obtain social, demographic,
and environmental data for the studied population in two periods
of time (from 1997 to 2003 and in 2005). Anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies were
assessed by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 2005.
Results: Anti-H. pylori IgG antibody was present in 28.7% of the children.
Among the studied variables, the following were positively associated with
the presence of anti-H. pylori antibodies in multivariable analyses: age above
8 years old (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.23–2.40), a larger sibling number (OR =
1.66, 95% CI = 1.26–2.18), nursery attendance (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.04–
2.12), location of the house at an unpaved street (OR = 2.03, 95% CI =
1.44–2.87) and absence of a flush toilet (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.00–1.74).
Conclusion: Our data show that H. pylori infection in children from a major
Brazilian city is associated with variables indicative of a crowded environment
and deficient sanitation ⁄ habitation conditions, leading to the conclusion
that improvements in hygiene and social conditions may protect
children against this infection.
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