Prevalence of and factors associated with Helicobacter pylori infection in preschoolers in Havana, Cuba: A population-based study.

INTRODUCTION

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is usually acquired in childhood. In Cuba, its study in pediatric ages is a little explored field.

AIM: To identify the prevalence of the infection and its associated risk factors in 3-year-old children in Havana.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

An analytic, cross-sectional, epidemiologic analysis was conducted on 1,274 children belonging to the cohort of participants in the Natural History of Wheezing in Cuba study (HINASIC for its Spanish acronym) that were 3 years of age and provided a stool sample. H. pylori infection was identified by determining the H. pylori antigen (Ag) in stool, utilizing the commercial Spinreact kit, from Spain. The data were collected through a questionnaire applied by the researchers that included sociodemographic, environmental, and lifestyle variables, as well as infection from other parasites. Prevalence and the prevalence ratio with a 95% confidence interval were calculated and the dichotomous logistic regression analysis was employed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of positive H. pylori Ag was 5%. Sleeping together was the risk factor found (PR:1.27; 95% CI: 1.03-1.50). Protective factors were drinking water from water delivery trucks (PR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.04-0.72) and living in a nuclear family unit (PR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.85-0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of H. pylori infection in early childhood places Havana in an intermediate position at the international level. To control the infection, causal studies should be conducted and opportune interventions implemented.