Prevalence and risk factors of infection in Ningxia, China: comparison of two cross-sectional studies from 2017 and 2022.

Objectives: () infection causes a variety of intragastric and extragastric diseases. Despite its decreasing global prevalence, it remains a major public health problem in many developing countries. This study aimed to understand the prevalence of infection and its risk factors in five cities of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, an area with high incidence of gastric cancer.

Methods: Cross-sectional studies were conducted in Ningxia from 2017 and 2022, to detect the prevalence of using the C urea breath test. All participants completed a questionnaire that included demographics, personal habits, household economic characteristics, and previous health status. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent factors for infection.

Results: Our findings demonstrated that the prevalence of infection in Ningxia decreased significantly from 60.3% in 2017 to 43.6% in 2022, with an increase in public awareness rate from 35.9% in 2017 to 68.5% in 2022. The lowest infection rate was found in Zhongwei and highest in Guyuan. The prevalence of infection was higher among Hui ethnicity, farmers, individuals living in rural areas, individuals with lower income, low education, and those who consumed less fruit. Gallbladder, respiratory, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases were not associated with infection.

Conclusions: The prevalence of in Ningxia decreased in the past five years. Ethnicity, location, occupation, income, education, and consumption of fruits were independent risk factors for infection in Ningxia. It was not associated with extra-gastric disease.