Helicobacter pylori infection in hepatitis B virus carriers in Cotonou: epidemiology and socio- demographic factors associated with the co- infection

Abstract

Introduction: Infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are two major public health issues in the world in general, and in Benin in particular . This study aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection and the socio-demographic factors associated with the co-infection in chronic HBV carriers in Cotonou. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive and analyticalstudy was conductedin the hepato- gastroenterology department of the CNHU-HKM from May to August 2017. We included all patients aged 15 years or older, carriers of HBs Antigen (Ag) who were admitted in that period. Detection of H. pylori was done by looking for H. pylori Ag in their stool. Results: Among the 121 patients who were positive for HBs Ag (mean age 42.3 ± 1 1.6 years, sex-ratio 2.26), 70 (57.9%) were also positive for H. pylori Ag test in the stool. The level of education was often high (61%), and the socio-economic level was medium for 80 patients (66%). Most lived with more than 2 people under the same roof (an average of 3.15 people) and 54 (44.6%) were in a household of more than 4 people. No socio-demographic factor was signifcantly associated with H. pylori infection in HBs Ag carriers: whether it was their age (p = 0.18), their gender (p = 1), their educational level (p = 0.52), the number of people living under the same roof (p = 0.45) or their socio- economic level (p = 0.81). Conclusion : The prevalence of H. pylori in patients with HBs Ag is relatively high, but appears to be lower than in the general population. However, among these adults, socio- demographic factors seem to play a minor role in the occurrence of the co-infection.