Abstract:

Background and objective: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients frequently experience upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) symptoms that cause considerable morbidity and are due to multiple etiologies. However, there is scarcity of information on the common etiologies that can cause these symptoms among these patients. The role of helicobacter pylori (H pylori) gastric mucosa infection in HIV positive adults in relation to upper GIT symptoms is not well documented. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and factors associated with helicobacter pylori infection among HIV infected adults with upper gastrointestinal symptoms at Bugando medical Centre, Mwanza.

Methods: analytical cross sectional hospital based study was conducted at BMC, Mwanza from May to July 2018 involving a total of 100 HIV infected adults with upper GIT symptoms attending care and treatment Centre (CTC). Social demographic and other relevant information was collected by using pre tested data collection tool. Stool specimens were collected and detection of helicobacter pylori was done by using immunochromatographic assay tests. Data were analyzed by using STATA version 13 as per study objectives.

Results: the median age of the study participants was 40 (IQR: 33.5-47.0) years. The prevalence of H. Pylori was 33(33% 95% CI: 23-42) and none of the factors found to be associated with infection.

Conclusion: the obtained prevalence was very high and none of the factors seems to be associated with helicobacter pylori infection due to small sample size, hence further studies with helicobacter pylori infection due to small sample size, hence further studies with large sample size and advanced technique are warranted in this study.