ASPO Abstracts
Awareness of Helicobacter pylori infections in Navajo communities of Northern Arizona
Category: Cancer Health Disparities
Conference Year: 2020
Abstract Body:
Purpose: Evaluate knowledge and awareness about Helicobacter pylori among participants in the Navajo Healthy
Stomach Pilot Project.
Methods. Cross-sectional, community surveys (Navajo Healthy Stomach Project) were conducted from June to
August 2018 among 105 self-identified Navajo >18 years old living in three Navajo communities in northern
Arizona. Participants were assessed on household and individual level factors, including awareness of H. pylori,
associated with H. pylori infection. A urea breath test (UBT) was performed to test for active infection. Chi-square
analysis was performed to examine differences between H. pylori positive and negative participants.
Results. Active H. pylori infection was found in 66 (65.3%) of 101 participants with UBT results. However, only
23.8% of participants had ever heard of H. pylori. Differences in gastrointestinal symptoms in the last 6 months
between H. pylori positive and negative participants were not statistically significant (p> 0.05), except ‘feeling full
for a long time’ and ‘heartburn’ was greater for those H pylori positive individuals (p = 0.01 and p = 0.05,
respectively). Previous testing for H. pylori was higher among participants that tested negative (28.6%) compared
to those who tested positive (4.5%) and was statistically significant (p<0.01). Additionally, 34.3% of those that
tested negative were aware of H. pylori while only 18.2% of those who tested positive were aware (p = 0.07).
Lastly, history of gastroscopy was higher among those that tested negative (p > 0.05).
Conclusions. H. pylori prevalence is high among participants in the Navajo Healthy Stomach Pilot Project.
However, awareness is low. Awareness and knowledge about H. pylori was higher among participants that tested
negative, which may be due to prior testing. These findings suggest that prior experiences with infection may
influence behaviors to prevent re-infection.
Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, Awareness, American Indian/Alaska Native