THE PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH DIABETES AMONG THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Diabetes Miletus is an emerging pandemic disorder with very complex pathogenesis. Studies have blamed it for the annual death of about 3.8 million people worldwide. Among the risk factors for diabetes are diet, physical activity, genetics and obesity, though a number of cases have been found where the recognized risk factors are absent. Recent studies have associated Helicobacter pylori infection with diabetes, though reports are contradictory. This study therefore aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection in the Northern zone of Cross River State as well as its association with diabetes Miletus. The study employed the cross-sectional survey design. Multistage sampling technique was used to select the subjects. Three Local government areas out of the five in the study area were randomly selected. In the three selected LGAs, three council wards were randomly selected by balloting. Two villages each were randomly selected in each ward; then incidental sampling technique was used to select 20 subjects who met the inclusion criteria. A total of 360 subjects formed the sample size which was determined using Slovin’s formula. The blood samples collected were taken to the lab within two hours for analysis (for H. pylori infection and blood sugar levels). Ethical approval for the study was sought and obtained from the Cross River State Ministry of Health. Informed consent was sought from the subjects and anyone who refused was excluded. The data collected were analysed using percentages, chi-square and t-test. Results revealed that H. pylori infection prevalence is 54.7 in the Northern Zone of Cross River State and strongly associates with diabetes (P<0.05). Screening and treatment of diabetes patients for H. pylori as well as  adequate measures for its reduction are recommended