TY - JOUR T1 - Seroprevalence of Helicobacter Pylori and its Related Factors Among the Students of Islamic Azad University of Gachsaran TT - سرواپیدمیولوژی عفونت هلیکوباکترپیلوری و عوامل مرتبط با آن دردانشجویان دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی‌گچساران JF - yums-armaghan JO - yums-armaghan VL - 17 IS - 2 UR - http://armaghanj.yums.ac.ir/article-1-304-en.html Y1 - 2012 SP - 164 EP - 173 KW - Helicobacter pylori KW - Serological Prevalence KW - Associated Risk factors N2 - Background & Aim: A number of different factors including social and economic status have been reported for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The purpose of this study was to examine the serological prevalence of H. pylori infection as well as its associated factors among the students of Islamic Azad University of Gachsaran. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in which all of the students employed to the study were attending the academic year 2010-2011 at the Islamic Azad University, Gachsaran Branch. Subjects of this study were 272 students who were selected by cluster random sampling. The data collection instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire prepared in two parts for demographic data and risk factors associated with Helicobacter infection. Its content validity was obtained using review of the existing literature and resources as well as experts' poll on the subject. Reliability of the questionnaire was approved by performing test-retest. Information about the serological status of Helicobacter infection were collected using the ELISA method to measure IgG antibody titers by taking 5 ml of venous blood. The collected data were analyzed through the statistical software SPSS version 16, using descriptive statistics and statistical test such as chi-square and t student test. Results: The mean of antibody titer to Helicobacter infection was 32.75± 28.30 (range 1.40-127). Anti-Helicobacter antibody was detected in 67.6% of students while 16.8% of them were negative for anti-Helicobacter antibody and borderline antibody levels were detected in 15.6% of the subjects. No statistically significant differences were found between the seroprevalence of Helicobacter and factors such as age, sex, blood type, family income, numbers of family members, the status of cigarettes smoking and alcohol consumption, history of gastrointestinal disorder in subjects or their families and personal hygiene behaviors (hand washing prior to meal and post bowel movement) (p>0.05). Conclusions: Serological prevalence of infection with Helicobacter infection was high among the students studying at Gachsaran Islamic Azad University therefore it calls for the attention of the health authorities. M3 ER -