Public Awareness and Attitude Towards Helicobacter pylori Infection among Residents of Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a common bacterial infection that can cause various digestive issues such as gastritis, peptic ulcers, and in some cases, stomach cancer. H. pylori is typically transmitted through contaminated food, water, or close contact with an infected person. Treatment usually involves a combination of antibiotics and acid-suppressing medications. This study aims to assess awareness of H. pylori infection among the residents in Al-Baha region, KSA by describing the pathogen, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and complications. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 424 residents in Al Baha, KSA through the distribution of an online questionnaire for English and Arabic-speaking citizens and residents aged 18 years or above and both sexes were invited to participate in this study. The data were extracted, reviewed, coded, and input into IBM SPSS version 28 for statistical analysis. Results: General knowledge about H. pylori was good, only 7 (1.7%) participants had not heard of it. 228 (53.77%) of the participants possessed a good level of awareness about H. pylori including its risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and complications. Females have higher knowledge scores (p = 0.022). Older participants were more likely to have good awareness and attitudes toward H. pylori infection than younger participants (p = 0.004). Conclusion: In conclusion, the study results showed that public awareness in Al-Baha region regarding H. pylori infection was good. New education programs are required to raise awareness of this disease which could be easily avoided with prevention awareness, early detection, and intervention.