Helicobacter pylori infection among the Dayak community in Kuching Division, Sarawak: findings from a community-based...

Helicobacter pylori is a primary driver of peptic ulcer disease and gastric adenocarcinoma, yet epidemiological data regarding its prevalence among indigenous communities in Sarawak are scarce. This study aimed to determine the H. pylori seroprevalence and identify associated socio-demographic and lifestyle factors within the Dayak population.

It was a cross-sectional study carried out in rural areas of Kuching Division. Data was collected using blood sampling, interview-guided questionnaires, and anthropometric measurements. The questionnaire included socio-demographic profiles, history of illness, smoking habit, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and dietary intake. Factor analysis was used to identify dietary patterns. Health profile including helicobacter pylori infection status, blood pressure and body mass index were collected.

A total of 199 respondents aged 18 to 91 years from six villages participated in this study, yielding a response rate of 96.6%. About 60% of the respondents were found to be overweight or obese, and 48.7% had hypertension. Blood test analysis detected H. pylori antibodies in 46.2% of the respondents. In the multivariate analysis, several factors were found to be significantly associated with the presence of H. pylori antibodies: increasing age (OR: 1.042, 95% CI: 1.011-1.074), lower systolic blood pressure (OR: 0.967, 95% CI: 0.941-0.994), high physical activity level (OR: 0.278, 95% CI: 0.121-0.640), and medium intake of nutritious food and dairy (OR: 3.364, 95% CI: 1.394-8.117).

Implementing community-level screening programs is essential for early detection and targeted intervention, which could ultimately reduce the burden of infection and its associated complications.