Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and parasites in symptomatic children examined for Helicobacter pylori antibodies, antigens, and parasites in Yemen.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and parasites in symptomatic children examined for H. pylori antibodies, antigens, and parasites in Yemen. METHODS: A record-based study was carried out at Specialized Sam Pediatric Center in Sana'a, Yemen for 3 years between 2011-2013. Out of the 43,200 patients seen for different causes through that period, 1008 (2.3%) (females: 675 [67%]; males: 333 [33%]) had gastric complaints, and were subjected to an examination of blood and stool for H. pylori and parasites. Data regarding age and gender was also collected. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 3-15 years. The prevalence of H. pylori among children examined for H. pylori was 65%, 30% of them were males, and 35% were females (chi square [I2]=142, p<0.01]). The prevalence in the 6-8 years age group was 83%, and it was 52% in the age group of 12-15 years. The prevalence of giardiasis was 10%, and amoebiasis was 25%. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of H. pylori infection among children was high, and was more prevalent in the age group of 6-8 years than in the other age groups. Females were more affected than males. Parasites (amoebiasis and giardiasis) infestation was less prevalent.

Effect of breastfeeding on growth in Yemeni infants.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of effective breastfeeding (EBF) practice and its association with weight of young infants, mother's education, employment status, and parity. METHODS: The study is a cross-sectional, conducted in Dula Health Center in Sana'a city, the capital of Yemen during the year 2003. Six hundred and twenty-one mothers and their exclusively breastfed apparently healthy infants attended to the health center for immunization were enrolled in the study. Effective breastfeeding was evaluated according to the World Health Organization integrated management of childhood illnesses literature. Weight was measured using Seca scale. We conducted interview to investigate the age of the child, parity, employment status, and education of the mother. RESULTS: The mean age of infants was 49.7+/-16.8 days. The prevalence of EBF was 16.9% (n=105). Good positioning was observed in 26.7% (n=166), followed by good suckling in 23.7% (n=147) and finally by good attachment in 20.3% (n=126). The mean weight of EBF infants was 3.9+/-0.5 kg, whereas that of the ineffectively breastfed group was 3.5+/-0.5 kg (p<0.0001). The 2 groups were compared with gender and age matched. The mean weight of well-attached infants was 3.8+/-0.55 kg and for those with good suckling was 3.8 +/- 0.55 kg and for those with good positioning was 3.7+/-0.59 kg. No association was found between EBF with mother's education and employment status while parity was positively related to EBF rate. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of EBF is low. Infants with EBF are heavier than the ineffectively breast-fed infants.