The Burden and Risk Factors of Helicobacter Pylori Infection Among Government Employees Who Clinically Complain of Indigestion but Allergic Diseases in Southeastern Ethiopia: A Multi-Institution Cross-Sectional Study

Figures & data

Figure 1 Map representing the study area.

Figure 2 Pie chart portraying the overall seroprevalence of H. pylori infection.

Table 1 Sociodemographic Characteristics of the Indigested Government Employees (n = 428)

Sociodemographic Variables	Blood Test Results for IgG Antibodies			χ^2	ρ-value
	Negative Count (%)	Positive Count (%)	Total Count (%)
Health institution from which patients Sampled				24.236	0
Bale-Robe General Hospital	7 (1.64)	80 (18.69)	87 (20.33)
Goba Tertiary Level Hospital	26 (6.07)	100 (23.36)	126 (29.44)
Dello Mena District Hospital	13 (3.04)	58 (13.55)	71 (16.59)
Gassera Health Center	24 (5.61)	50 (11.68)	74 (17.29)
Goro District Hospital	26 (6.07)	44 (10.28)	70 (16.36)
Residence category				4.6514	0.031
Urban	53 (12.38)	223 (52.10)	276 (64.49)
Rural	43 (10.05)	109 (25.47)	152 (35.51)
Sex of the patient				0.0241	0.877
Male	66 (15.42)	231 (53.97)	297 (69.39)
Female	30 (7.01)	101 (23.60)	131 (30.61)
Age category of the patient (in years)				1.62	0.655
[21–28.9]	18 (4.21)	51 (11.92)	69 (16.12)
[29–35.9]	64 (14.95)	216 (50.47)	280 (65.42)
[36–42.9]	11 (2.57)	49 (11.45)	60 (14.02)
[43–49.9]	3 (0.70)	16 (3.74)	19 (4.44)
Ethnic group				2.6602	0.85
Oromoo	74 (17.29)	239 (55.84)	313 (73.13)
Sidama	7 (1.64)	23 (5.37)	30 (7.01)
Somali	3 (0.70)	12 (2.80)	15 (3.50)
Silte	3 (0.70)	10 (2.34)	13 (3.04)
Wolaita	1 (0.23)	11 (2.57)	12 (2.80)
Gurage	2 (0.47)	14 (3.27)	16 (3.74)
Tigreway	6 (1.40)	23 (5.37)	29 (6.78)
Religion				3.3831
Orthodox	46 (10.75)	136 (31.78)	182 (42.52)
Muslim	33 (7.71)	108 (25.23)	141 (32.94)
Wakefata	7 (1.64)	32 (7.48)	39 (9.11)
Protestant	10 (2.34)	56 (13.08)	66 (15.42)
The highest education level attained				3.5757	0.466
Graduate degree	11 (2.57)	49 (11.45)	60 (14.02)
Some graduate study	14 (3.27)	69 (16.12)	83 (19.39)
Degree	61 (14.25)	177 (41.36)	238 (55.61)
Diploma	9 (2.10)	32 (7.48)	41 (9.58)
Certificate	1 (0.23)	5 (1.17)	6 (1.40)
Marital status				0.8096	0.847
Single	21 (4.91)	69 (16.12)	90 (21.03)
Married	63 (14.72)	231 (53.97)	294 (68.69)
Divorced	8 (1.87)	21 (4.91)	29 (6.78)
Widowed	4 (0.93)	11 (2.57)	15 (3.50)
Monthly income category (in Ethiopian Birr)				3.8946	0.273
Less than 3001	1 (0.23)	4 (0.93)	5 (1.17)
3001–5000	8 (1.87)	26 (6.07)	34 (7.94)
5001–10,000	67 (15.65)	199 (46.50)	266 (62.15)
Greater than 10,000	20 (4.67)	103 (24.07)	123 (28.74)
Current band/sector where the employee is serving				4.3716	0.358
Health	17 (3.97)	43 (10.05)	60 (14.02)
Education	25 (5.84)	114 (26.64)	139 (32.48)
Agriculture & natural resources	23 (5.37)	62 (14.49)	85 (19.86)
Justice-related (Judge, prosecutor and police)	20 (4.67)	65 (15.19)	85 (19.86)
Finance, Economics & Planning	11 (2.57)	48 (11.21)	59 (13.79)
Engaged in sideline business for a living				5.5006	0.24
None	41 (9.58)	179 (41.82)	220 (51.40)
Crop production	4 (0.93)	13 (3.04)	17 (3.97)
Livestock production	35 (8.18)	83 (19.39)	118 (27.57)
Trader	12 (2.80)	45 (10.51)	57 (13.32)
Service provider	4 (0.93)	12 (2.80)	16 (3.74)

Figure 3 Box plot representation of the study participants age and household size.

Figure 4 Frequency distribution of religions versus smoking status.

Figure 5 Frequency distribution of religions versus alcohol-drinking status.

Table 2 Bivariate Logistic Regression Analysis of Plausible Risk Factors for IgG Test Results

Variables	Crude Odds Ratio	Std. Err.	ρ-value	[95% CI]	Overall
					χ^2	χ^2 ρ-value
Health institution sampled					25.44	0.000
Bale-Robe General Hospital	1
Goba Tertiary Level Hospital	0.34	0.15	0.016	0.14–0.82
Dello Mena District Hospital	0.39	0.20	0.060	0.15–1.04
Gassera Health Center	0.18	0.08	0.000	0.07–0.45
Goro District Hospital	0.15	0.07	0.000	0.06–0.37
Residence category					4.55	0.033
Urban	1
Rural	0.60	0.14	0.032	0.38–0.96
Sex					0.02	0.877
Male	1
Female	0.96	0.24	0.877	0.59–1.57
Patients age category (in years)					1.67	0.644
[21–28.9]	1
[29–35.9]	1.19	0.37	0.571	0.65–2.18
[36–42.9]	1.57	0.68	0.295	0.67–3.67
[43–49.9]	1.88	1.29	0.357	0.49–7.23
Ethnic group					3.11	0.795
Oromoo	1
Sidama	1.02	0.46	0.970	0.42–2.47
Somali	1.24	0.82	0.746	0.34–4.51
Silte	1.03	0.69	0.963	0.28–3.85
Wolaita	3.41	3.59	0.244	0.43–26.82
Gurage	2.17	1.66	0.314	0.48–9.76
Tigreway	1.19	0.57	0.720	0.47–3.02
Religion					3.57	0.316
Orthodox	1
Muslim	1.11	0.29	0.698	0.66–1.85
Wakefata	1.55	0.70	0.334	0.64–3.74
Protestant	1.89	0.73	0.096	0.89–4.02
The highest education level attained					3.67	0.453
Graduate degree	1
Some graduate study	1.11	0.49	0.820	0.46–2.64
Degree	0.65	0.24	0.240	0.32–1.33
Diploma	0.80	0.40	0.654	0.30–2.14
Certificate	1.12	1.29	0.920	0.12–10.59
Marital status					0.78	0.853
Single	1
Married	1.12	0.32	0.702	0.64–1.96
Divorced	0.80	0.39	0.643	0.31–2.06
Widowed	0.84	0.53	0.779	0.24–2.90
Monthly income category (in Birr)					4.07	0.254
Less than 3001	1
3001–5000	0.81	0.97	0.861	0.08–8.35
5001–10,000	0.74	0.84	0.792	0.08–6.76
Greater than 10,000	1.29	1.47	0.825	0.14–12.13
Current band/sector the employee serving					4.36	0.359
Health	1
Education	1.80	0.65	0.103	0.89–3.66
Agriculture & natural resources	1.07	0.40	0.866	0.51–2.23
Justice-related (Judge, prosecutor and police)	1.28	0.49	0.514	0.61–2.73
Finance, Economics & Planning	1.73	0.76	0.215	0.73–4.09
Engaged in sideline business for a living					5.35	0.253
None	1
Crop production	0.74	0.44	0.621	0.23–2.40
Livestock production	0.54	0.14	0.022	0.32–0.91
Trader	0.86	0.32	0.680	0.42–1.77
Service provider	0.69	0.41	0.534	0.21–2.24
History of Kissing Cross (from Father of Repent)					1.46	0.226
No	1
Yes	0.75	0.18	0.226	0.48–1.19
Sharing local spoon on ceremonies*					94.2	0.000
No	1
Yes	13.50	3.80	0.000	7.78–23.44
Admitted “Gursha” on festivities**					246.48	0.000
No	1
Yes	115.20	49.91	0.000	49.28–269.32
Commonly eating Spicy foods					0.01	0.956
No	1
Yes	0.99	0.23	0.956	0.62–1.57
Regularly eats Salty foods					3.66	0.056
No	1
Yes	1.60	0.40	0.060	0.98–2.62
Have in-home water service					2.05	0.152
No	1
Yes	1.48	0.41	0.162	0.86–2.56
Sharing eating utensils					85.81	0.000
No	1
Yes	11.97	3.34	0.000	6.93–20.67
Eating from vendors and/or restaurants					0.02	0.965
No	1
Yes	1.01	0.25	0.965	0.62–1.64
Eating raw/uncooked vegetables					115.96	0.000
No	1
Yes	15.44	4.30	0.000	8.94–26.67
The type of toilet used to					342.52	0.000
Own-toilet	1
No toilet or traditional pit	671.18	399.84	0.000	208.81 −2157.38
Currently active alcohol drinker					122.63	0.000
No	1
Yes	29.46	12.89	0.000	12.50–69.43
Active smoker (not more than 10 years)					38.67	0.000
No	1
Yes	17.75	12.87	0.000	4.28–73.51
Common sleeping hours					264.49	0.000
Less than 5 hours per day	1
5–8 hours per day	9.2	5.27	0.000	7.14–16.69
Greater than 8 hours a day	26.32	41.3	0.000	9.13–67.08
Housed under same roof with domestic animals					95.87	0.000
No	1
Yes	88.37	89.36	0.000	12.18–641.32
Regular hand washing before eating					216.95	0.000
No	1
Yes	0.005	0.004	0.000	0.001–0.022
Regularly eating peppery foods					0.77	0.381
No	1
Yes	0.82	0.19	0.382	0.52–1.29
Engaged in chewing Khat practices					128.88	0.000
No	1
Yes	52.67	31.47	0.000	16.33 −169.90
Experienced major life events (the last 24 months)***					20.37	0.000
No	1
Yes	6.48	3.42	0.000	2.30–18.23

Notes: *Sharing local spoons on ceremonial dish meals or guest invitations or at the household level. **Admitted “Gursha” on ceremonial festivity and from relatives (such as “Chechebsa”, “Chukko”, “Kinche”, “Shakaka”, and Porrage). ***Major life events raised include life partner death, political abandonment (lack of political tranquility), famine (drought), family displacement, significant economic inflations, and victim of civil war.

Table 3 Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis Model Fit of Plausible Risk Factors with Infection

Variables	Adjusted Odds Ratio	Std. Err.	ρ-value	[95% CI]
Health institution sampled
Bale-Robe General Hospital	1
Goba Tertiary Level Hospital	0.29	0.15	0.016	0.12–0.78
Dello Mena District Hospital	0.39	0.21	0.084	0.13–1.13
Gassera Health Center	0.18	0.09	0.001	0.07–0.48
Goro District Hospital	0.13	0.07	0.000	0.05–0.36
Residence category
Urban	1
Rural	0.73	0.22	0.307	0.40–1.33
Ethnic group
Oromoo	1
Sidama	0.98	0.54	0.975	0.33–2.90
Somali	1.58	1.15	0.535	0.37–6.63
Silte	0.88	0.65	0.863	0.20–3.80
Wolaita	2.95	3.29	0.332	0.33–26.25
Gurage	1.94	1.61	0.428	0.37–9.93
Tigreway	1.16	0.62	0.780	0.41–3.30
Religion
Orthodox	1
Muslim	1.29	0.42	0.432	0.68–2.46
Wakefata	1.18	0.57	0.730	0.45–3.09
Protestant	1.96	0.85	0.122	0.83–4.61
The highest education level attained
Graduate degree	1
Some graduate study	1.24	0.59	0.642	0.48–3.19
Degree	0.67	0.29	0.358	0.28–1.56
Diploma	0.98	0.57	0.984	0.32–3.08
Certificate	1.91	2.32	0.592	0.17–20.65
Current band/sector the employee serving
Health	1
Education	2.08	0.83	0.067	0.94–4.56
Agriculture & natural resources	1.37	0.57	0.453	0.60–3.12
Justice-related (Judge, prosecutor and police)	1.24	0.54	0.610	0.53–2.93
Finance, Economics & Planning	1.73	0.84	0.258	0.67–4.51
Engaged in sideline business for a living
None	1
Crop production	0.63	0.41	0.482	0.17–2.28
Livestock production	0.45	0.13	0.007	0.24–0.81
Trader	0.62	0.25	0.245	0.27–1.39
Service provider	0.58	0.39	0.415	0.16–2.14
History of Kissing Cross (from Father of Repent)
No	1
Yes	1.13	0.83	0.906	0.25–4.84
Sharing local spoon on ceremonies
No	1
Yes	39.30	47.07	0.000	19.52–78.31
Admitted “Gursha” on festivities
No	1
Yes	71.48	105.22	0.004	3.99–1279.77
Regularly eats Salty foods
No	1
Yes	3.30	3.06	0.198	0.54–20.34
Have in-home water service
No	1
Yes	2.33	1.96	0.317	0.44–12.23
Sharing eating utensils
No	1
Yes	4.63	0.008	0.995	0.94–3.48
Eating raw/uncooked vegetables
No	1
Yes	2.64	2.56	0.315	0.39–17.63
The type of toilet used to
Own-toilet	1
No-toilet and traditional pit	1410.98	1767.28	0.000	121.16–16,431.19
Currently active Alcohol drinker
No	1
Yes	15.15	16.03	0.010	1.90–120.62
Active Smoking status (not more than 10 years)
No	1
Yes	1.53	1.74	0.710	0.16–14.24
Common Sleeping hours
Less than 5 hours per day	1
5–8 hours per day	4.61	0.07	0.000	2.4–6.93
Greater than 8 hours a day	15.01	41.3	0.000	13.48–55.96
Housed with domestic animals under the same roof
No	1
Yes	14.13	30.37	0.218	0.20–955.79
Regular hand washing before eating
No	1
Yes	0.15	0.01	0.001	0.12–0.19
Engaged in Chewing Khat practices
No	1
Yes	76.73	85.82	0.000	8.57–687.07
Experienced major life events (over the last 24 months)
No	1
Yes	10.80	15.80	0.104	0.61–189.91

Notes: CI = confidence interval at the 95% significance level, 1 indicates the reference variable.

Table 4 Independent Predictors of H. Pylori Infection Among Indigested Workers

Variables	Adjusted Odds Ratio	Std. Err.	ρ-value	[95% CI]
Health institution sampled
Bale-Robe General Hospital	1
Goba Tertiary Level Hospital	0.29	0.15	0.016	0.12–0.78
Dello Mena District Hospital	0.39	0.21	0.084	0.13–1.13
Gassera Health Center	0.18	0.09	0.001	0.07–0.48
Goro District Hospital	0.13	0.07	0.000	0.05–0.36
Engaged in sideline business for a living
None	1
Crop production	0.63	0.41	0.482	0.17–2.28
Livestock production	0.45	0.13	0.007	0.24–0.81
Trader	0.62	0.25	0.245	0.27–1.39
Service provider	0.58	0.39	0.415	0.16–2.14
History of Kissing Cross (from Father of Repent)
No	1
Yes	1.13	0.83	0.906	0.25–4.84
Sharing local spoon on ceremonies
No	1
Yes	39.30	47.07	0.000	19.52 −78.31
Admitted “Gursha” on festivities
No	1
Yes	71.48	105.22	0.004	3.99 −1279.77
The type of toilet used to
Own-toilet	1
No toilet or traditional pit	1410.98	1767.28	0.000	121.16 −16,431.19
Currently active Alcohol drinker
No	1
Yes	15.15	16.03	0.010	1.90 −120.62
Common Sleeping hours (per day)
Less than 5 hours	1
5–8 hours	4.61	0.07	0.000	2.40–6.93
Greater than 8 hours	15.01	41.3	0.000	13.48–55.96
Regular hand washing before eating
No	1
Yes	0.15	0.01	0.001	0.12–0.19
Engaged in Chewing Khat frequently
No	1
Yes	76.73	85.82	0.000	8.57–687.07

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.