Atul Khajuria,
Eric Kwasi Elliasion,
Stephen Monday,
J. Samuel Kamanda,
- Director, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Desh Bhagat University, Punjab, India
- Researh Fellow, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Desh Bhagat University, Punjab, India
- Teaching Assistant, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Desh Bhagat University, Punjab, India
- Teahing Assistant, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Desh Bhagat University, Punjab, India
Abstract
Background: Stomach cancer remains a major global health challenge, with a particularly high burden in developing regions. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a known risk factor for gastric malignancy. In India, especially in rural states like Rajasthan, there is limited data on the prevalence of H. pylori and its association with stomach cancer, despite the high incidence of gastric diseases. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among rural communities in Rajasthan to examine the correlation between H. pylori infection and the incidence of stomach cancer. A combination of endoscopic examination, histopathological analysis, and urea breath tests were employed to detect H. pylori infection. Participants were selected from local healthcare centers based on symptoms indicative of gastric complications. Demographic information, lifestyle patterns, sanitation conditions, and dietary habits were also collected via structured interviews. Results: Out of the total participants (N = 500), 62% tested positive for H. pylori. Among those infected, a significant number showed precancerous or cancerous gastric lesions, confirming the role of the bacterium in gastric carcinogenesis. The infection rate was notably higher in communities with poor sanitation, contaminated water supply, and limited access to healthcare. Dietary patterns such as high salt intake and low consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables further contributed to gastric disease progression. Conclusion: The study establishes a clear link between H. pylori infection and the incidence of stomach cancer in rural Rajasthan. It underscores the urgent need for public health interventions focused on improving sanitation, enhancing diagnostic services, and initiating community-based awareness programs about gastric health and H. pylori infection.
Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, stomach cancer, gastric carcinoma, rural health, Rajasthan, infection, sanitation, cancer prevention
[This article belongs to Research and Reviews: A Journal of Health Professions ]
Atul Khajuria, Eric Kwasi Elliasion, Stephen Monday, J. Samuel Kamanda. The Role of Helicobacter pylori in Stomach Cancer Incidence: A Study in Rural Communities in Rajasthan. Research and Reviews: A Journal of Health Professions. 2025; 15(03):45-50.
Atul Khajuria, Eric Kwasi Elliasion, Stephen Monday, J. Samuel Kamanda. The Role of Helicobacter pylori in Stomach Cancer Incidence: A Study in Rural Communities in Rajasthan. Research and Reviews: A Journal of Health Professions. 2025; 15(03):45-50. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjohp/article=2025/view=229233
References
- Sung, H., Ferlay, J., Siegel, R. L., Laversanne, M., Soerjomataram, I., Jemal, A., & Bray, F. (2021). Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 71(3), 209-249.
- Shah, S., Shah, R., & Desai, A. (2019). Gastric cancer and H. pylori in Rajasthan: A case-control study. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 20(8), 2341-2347.
- International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2018). Helicobacter pylori as a carcinogen. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, 114.
- Mehta, S., Sharma, P., & Gupta, M. (2020). Water sanitation and H. pylori infection in rural India. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 13(8), 1120-1125.
- Yadav, S., Patel, A., & Kumar, R. (2021). Barriers to H. pylori eradication in rural India. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 26(4), 412-420.
- Bhatia, S., Gupta, R., & Malhotra, V. (2022). Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer in India: A meta-analysis. Indian Journal of Gastroenterology, 41(3), 245-256.
- Indian Council of Medical Research. (2021). National cancer registry programme report. ICMR.
- Malfertheiner, P., Megraud, F., O’Morain, C. A., Gisbert, J. P., Kuipers, E. J., Axon, A. T., … & Gasbarrini, A. (2017). Management of H. pylori infection—the Maastricht V/Florence consensus report. Gut, 66(1), 6-30.
- Opekun, A. R., Gilger, M. A., Denyes, S. M., Nirken, M. H., Philip, S. P., & Graham, D. Y. (2019). Stool antigen testing for H. pylori: A systematic review. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 17(6), 1023-1032.
- World Medical Association. (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA, 310(20), 2191-2194.
- Hooi, J. K. Y., Lai, W. Y., Ng, W. K., Suen, M. M. Y., Underwood, F. E., Tanyingoh, D., … & Ng, S. C. (2017). Global prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Gastroenterology, 153(2), 420-429.
- Sgambato, D., Visciola, G., Ferrante, E., Miranda, A., Romano, L., & Tuccillo, C. (2018). Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer: Host, bug, environment, or all three? World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology, 10(9), 250-261.
- Gaddy, J. A., Radin, J. N., Loh, J. T., Piazuelo, M. B., Kehl-Fie, T. E., Delgado, A. G., … & Cover, T. L. (2013). High dietary salt intake exacerbates Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric carcinogenesis. Infection and Immunity, 81(6), 2258-2267.
- Sugano, K., Tack, J., Kuipers, E. J., Graham, D. Y., El-Omar, E. M., Miura, S., … & Malfertheiner, P. (2015). Kyoto global consensus report on Helicobacter pylori gastritis. Gut, 64(9), 1353-1367.
Research and Reviews: A Journal of Health Professions
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 03 |
| Received | 25/03/2025 |
| Accepted | 22/08/2025 |
| Published | 14/10/2025 |
| Publication Time | 203 Days |
Login
PlumX Metrics