Helicobacter pylori Prevalence and Risk Factors in Three Rural Indigenous Communities of Northern Arizona

Robin B. Harris, Heidi E. Brown, Rachelle L. Begay, Priscilla R. Sanderson, Carmenlita Chief, Fernando P. Monroy and Eyal Oren
Additional contact information
Robin B. Harris: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Heidi E. Brown: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Rachelle L. Begay: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Ave., Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
Priscilla R. Sanderson: Department of Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, Northern Arizona University, SAS (Bldg 60), 1100 S. Beaver St., POB 15095, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Carmenlita Chief: Center for Health Equity Research, College of Health and Human Services, Northern Arizona University, 1395 South Knoles Drive, POB 4065, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Fernando P. Monroy: Department of Biological Sciences, College of the Environment, Forestry and Natural Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 617 S. Beaver St., Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Eyal Oren: Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) is one of the most common bacterial stomach infections and is implicated in a majority of non-cardia gastric cancer. While gastric cancer has decreased in the United States (US), the incidence in the Navajo Nation is nearly four times higher than surrounding Non-Hispanic White populations. Little is known about H. pylori prevalence in this population or other Indigenous communities in the lower 48 states. In this cross-sectional study, 101 adults representing 73 households from three Navajo Nation chapter communities completed surveys and a urea breath test for active H. pylori . Accounting for intrahousehold correlation, H. pylori prevalence was 56.4% (95% CI, 45.4–66.8) and 72% of households had at least one infected person. The odds of having an active infection in households using unregulated water were 8.85 (95% CI, 1.50–53.38) that of the use of regulated water, and males had 3.26 (95% CI, 1.05–10.07) higher odds than female. The prevalence of H. pylori in Navajo is similar to that seen in Alaska Natives. Further investigation into factors associated with prevention of infection is needed as well as understanding barriers to screening and treatment.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori; health disparities; American Indian; gastric cancer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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