Epidemiological Distribution of Risk Factors Contributing to Symptomatic Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Diyala Province, Iraq

Helicobacter pylori is a worldwide spread bacterium, that invades the submucosal membrane of stomach via feco-oral or feco-fecal transmission, causing several gastric and duodenal diseases. The study aims to assess risk factors for symptomatic infection their epidemiological distribution. A cross-sectional was conducted from October 2020 May 2021 in Baquba, Iraq. It on sample outpatient patients who complain various symptoms gastrointestinal disorders, where size 194 patients, ages ranged 15 70 years, main characteristics taken up included age, sex, place residence, smoking status. H. recognized by identifying anti-H. Pylori (IgG) patient serum using ELISA technique. Chi-squared Binomial tests were adopted difference between variables. shows highest rate among aged 15-30 years (45.7%), most females (66.3%), majority them (68.5%) rural dwellers. In conclusion, younger ages, female gender, dwellers, non-smokers, those complained pain significantly associated with helicobacter infection.