Abstract
H. pylori infection is common infection in developing countries and is associated with gastric and extra-gastric complications was not studied before in Occupied Palestinian territories. We wanted to measure the prevalence of H. pylori infection in a sample from Nablus region in West Bank and to study risk factors and clinical outcomes. We found that 122 patients who visited medical laboratories in Nablus were recruited to participate in the study. A questionnaire was collected from the study group on information that included; demographic variables, diseases history, blood groups. A sample of stool was collected and evaluated for H. pylori infection using H. pylori Antigen Test. SPSS software was used to perform statistical analysis of the study. 41.8% of the study participants had H. pylori infection. Patients without Diabetes mellitus type were less likely to have H. pylori infection (OR= 0.15(95% CI, 0.04, 0.60, p=0.008). Also, not having GI was associated with less H. pylori infection OR= 0.40, 95% CI, 0.39, 1.75, p=0.018). H. pylori infection was more common in patients with O blood group, but this did not reach statistical significance. Smoking and hygiene practices were not related to H. pylori infection. In conclusion, H. pylori infection is prevalent in Nablus and is associated with higher risk for Diabetes and GI problems.