The Prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori Infection and the Associated Demographic and Histopathological Characteristics as seen in Patients Diagnosed with Chronic Gastritis in Uganda.

Abstract Background: Chronic gastritis is marked by persistent stomach mucosal inflammation due to a variety of etiologies but more commonly driven by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, affecting over half the global population and increasing gastric cancer risk. This study investigated H. pylori prevalence, its demographic and histopathological associations among chronic gastritis patients in Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional laboratory study analyzed 150 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from chronic gastritis patients using H&E and modified Giemsa stains. Data was analyzed with STATA version 17, determining prevalence through proportions, assessing associations using Chi-square tests and Fisher exact test, and conducting multivariate analysis with logistic regression. Significance was set at p≤0.05 with 95% confidence intervals. Results: The study included 150 patients (male-to-female ratio 1.5:1; mean age 48 years, SD=17, range 12–89). H. pylori prevalence was 29.3%. Significant associations were observed with age (p=0.033), chronic inflammation (p=0.009), neutrophil activity (p<0.001), and intestinal metaplasia (p=0.045), but not sex (p=0.796). Multivariate analysis confirmed associations with severe chronic inflammation, neutrophil activity, and intestinal metaplasia, highlighting H. pylori’s role in disease severity. Conclusion: H. pylori infection, with a 29.3% prevalence, significantly contributes to chronic gastritis in Uganda. Its associations with age, chronic inflammation, neutrophil activity, and intestinal metaplasia emphasize the need for targeted eradication programs, particularly for adults, to prevent progression to severe gastric pathology, regardless of sex.