Abstract:

Background: Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a significant global health issue affecting millions, including university students. It involves painful mucosal lesions in the stomach or upper small intestine, which can negatively impact quality of life and academic performance. In 2017, PUD affected 5-10% of university students globally, with a higher prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa, reaching 24.5%. Contributing factors include lifestyle choices, NSAID use, smoking, anxiety, and academic stress. Despite the rising prevalence of PUD among university students in developing countries, no studies have been conducted in Tanzania to assess its magnitude.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) in Mwanza, Tanzania. The study population included undergraduate students from the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS). A stratified sampling method was used to select 344 students, with data collected through structured self-administered questionnaires in English and Swahili. The questionnaires included demographic data and questions related to factors contributing to PUD. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 20, with Chi-square tests determining associations between variables. Ethical approval was obtained from the CUHAS/BMC Ethics and Review Committee.

Results: The study found that 29.5% of undergraduate students at CUHAS had been diagnosed with PUD. Significant associations were observed between PUD prevalence and factors such as age (p=0.034), gender (p=0.000), smoking (p=0.02), NSAID use (p=0.015), and academic stress (p=0.04). However, no significant associations were found with religion, course of study, or year of study.

Conclusion: PUD is prevalent among CUHAS students, with age, gender, smoking, NSAID use, and academic stress identified as significant contributing factors. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address PUD risk factors among university students in Tanzania.