Assessing the factors associated with ulcers among Makerere University students

Abstract

There are various factors that are associated with ulcers and these vary from person to person depending on the environment, lifestyle and genetic to a certain extent. Globally, the prevalence cases of peptic ulcer disease increased from 6 434 103 (95% uncertainty interval: 5 405 963 to 7 627 971) in 1990 to 8 090 476 (6 794 576 to 9 584 000) in 2019. In detail, the global age-standardized prevalence rate decreased from 1990 to 2015 and then showed a mild increase from 2015 to 2019. Despite the decrease in prevalence of ulcer disease in Western Europe, North America, Australia, and parts of Asia, the proportion of infected people is estimated to be about 25%, developing countries have much higher prevalence rates, and in Africa, it is estimated that 61–100% of the population is infected and at risk of PUD and the other associated diseases with H Pylori as the more prevailing cases. The research used a quantitative methodology basing on the previous approaches that were used in similar studies previously conducted. The study was carried out using questionnaires and interviewed the sample of the university population focusing on the students particularly, both that have tested for ulcers and those that have not. The data was collected by the researcher herself which data was used to decompose the relation between the factors associated with ulcers and ulcer prevalence. For all biological/ human factors that is gender and year of study have significant relationships with ulcers except age that is to say p-values (p=0.007, p=0.049 & p=0.074 respectively. One’s number of meals, use of NSAIDS, consumption of caffeine as well as smoking experiences have no relationship with the prevalence of ulcers while stress levels, consumption of alcohol and fatty food have significant relationship with prevalence of ulcers. In conclusion, generally all the factors increase the likelihood of falling in the target group i.e testing positive for ulcers and a person’s lifestyle and habits may either raise or lower the risk for ulcers but use of aspirin and diclofenac on regular use, smoking and drinking alcohol too much raises the risk for ulcers that is as use of those factors increases so does the odd ratio for the predictor.