Objective: To explore the Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection rate among army and navy recruits, examine its associated risk factors and provide theoretic rationales for Hp control.
Methods: A cross-sectionalstudy was performed for 1 732 subjects (aged 17-24 years) selected from 18 new recruit populations in Inner Mongolia and Zhoushan area from September 2013 to November 2013.Hp infection was detected by (13)C-urea breath test. Meanwhile, a questionnaire containing 62 potential factors related to Hp infection was surveyed. In addition, (13)C-urea breath test was performed in 513 navy veterans (aged 19-51 years) in Zhoushan area from April 2013 to October 2013. The data of risk factors were analyzed by χ(2) test and multivariate Logistic regression.
Results: A total of 2 162 soldiers were enrolled and 1 649 new recruits completed two surveys. The overall Hp infection rate was 46.5% (768/1 649), which is lower than the previous studies (52.9%). And it was 47.0% (377/802) in army new recruits and 46.0% (390/847) in navy new recruits. For new recruits, Hp infection was associated with number of family members, washing tableware with detergents, first drinking age and paring fruits before eating (all P < 0.05). However, there was no association with age, education level or washing hands before meal (all P > 0.05). The Hp infection rate was higher in recruits from the West China and North China.In addition, the infection rate was 60.8% (312/513) in a population of 513 veterans. It was 46.6% (768/1 649) in recruits less than onemonth of service, 59.2% (180/304) in recruits less than two years of service and 63.2% (132/209) in recruits more than two years of service, the difference had statistical significance(P < 0.05). Logistic analysis of multiple variables showed that number of family members, washing tableware with detergents, first drinking age and paring fruits before eating were independent risk factors (OR = 1.574, 0.538, 0.638, 0.855; 95%CI:1.077-2.301, 0.362-0.798, 0.486-0.837, 0.457-0.961).
Conclusions: The Hp infection rate is similar between army and navy recruits. It has dropped significantly and its epidemic region changed in new male recruits compared to a decade ago in china. Hp infection clustered within families. The factors including fewer family members, washing tableware without detergents, first drinking at young age and no paring fruits before eating are risk factors of Hpinfection. And a longer service time is associated with higher Hp infection rate in recruits.