• Uwihanganye Jean Leodegard
• Rosemary Okova
• Monica Mochama

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is usually acquired in childhood. It has not been widely studied in individuals within all age categories in Rwanda but also no study about this infection has been conducted in rural regions of Rwanda. The majority of studies have been conducted in hospitals located in cities like Kigali and Butare. Opportune preventive measures for stopping H. pylori transmission will reduce the incidence of this disease and will depend on knowledge of the history of H. pylori infection. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify the prevalence of H. pylori and its associated risk factors with gastritis patients attending Butaro district hospital in Rwanda from October 2022 to March 2023. The ethical approval procedures were respected. In this context, ethical approvals were given by both Mount Kenya University and Butaro district hospital, as a way of introducing the researcher to the field of data collection and have access to study respondents. Additionally, participants signed consent forms. A cross-sectional, epidemiologic analysis was conducted on 381 gastritis patients obtained by Yamane formula application from the target population of 548 confirmed patients with gastritis in Butaro district hospital, belonging to various age groups and they have all provided stool samples. H. pylori infection was identified by determining the H. pylori antigen (Ag) in stool, utilizing the commercial Biopanda H. pylori Antigen rapid test cassette which is a lateral flow immunoassay for the detection of H. pylori antigens in human fecal specimens. Data were collected through questionnaires applied by the researcher that included sociodemographic and lifestyle variables. Data from questionnaires were entered in SPSS version 21 for analysis, Bivariate Analysis was conducted using 2×2 Contingency Tables. The prevalence and 95% confidence interval of the infection for each exposure category were. The statistically significant variables, as well as other scientifically acceptable variables, were incorporated into the modeling process through Logistic Regression. Prevalence and the prevalence ratio with a 95% confidence interval were calculated and the dichotomous logistic regression analysis was employed. The prevalence of positive H. pylori Ag was 46.2%. Being female was the risk factor found (PR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0–4.7) and using tap water as the source of drinking water (PR: 5.5; 95% CI: 2.3–5.9). No association found between education level, place they take their meals, and waste disposal, given their p-values greater than 0.005. The findings of this study will give the authorities in health sector a good chance to put in place adequate preventive measures against H. pylori infection. Importantly, all confirmed cases of H. pylori infections should be treated to avoid the chances of transmission and steady supply of clean water to the residents. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in all rural areas should be studied as a way of eradicating this infection and to treat the confirmed cases

Helicobacter pylori, Gastritis, Gastritis Ulcers, Factors associated with H. Pylori, Prevalence of gastritis, Inflammation, Lifestyle Factors

"Prevalence and Factors Associated with Helicobactor Pylori in Patients with Gastritis Attending Butaro District Hospital in Rwanda", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 1, page no.g510-g530, January-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2501654.pdf

"Prevalence and Factors Associated with Helicobactor Pylori in Patients with Gastritis Attending Butaro District Hospital in Rwanda", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 1, page no. ppg510-g530, January-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2501654.pdf