A survey on the current status of Helicobacter pylori infection in households in Hainan Province, China

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection at the household level in Hainan Province in China and identify the factors that contribute to its spread. The findings of this study have significant implications for public health prevention strategies in the Hainan region. METHODS: A total of 421 families, comprising 1355 individuals, were tested for Hp infection across five cities in Hainan Province between July 2021 and April 2022. The study utilized questionnaires that included questions about personal characteristics, household shared lifestyle and dietary habits, and potential pathways of Hp infection in children to identify potential factors linked to household Hp infection and transmission patterns. RESULTS: The prevalence of Hp infection on an individual basis was 46.72% (629/1355), with age ≥ 20 years, being married and having junior secondary education and above as risk factors for Hp infection. The prevalence of Hp infection in households was 80.29% (338/421), household size of 5, 6 and above were risk factors for Hp infection with Odds Ratios (ORs) of 4.09 (1.17–14.33) and 15.19 (2.01–114.73), respectively, household income ≥ 100,000 yuan and drinking boiled water from a tap source were protective factors for Hp infection with ORs of 0.52 (0.31–0.89) and 0.51 (0.28–0.95), respectively. The prevalence of Hp infection among minors in the household was 24.89% (58/233), with paternal infection and maternal infection as risk factors for child infection, with ORs of 2.93 (1.29–6.62) and 2.51 (1.07–5.89), respectively. CONCLUSION: Hp infection was prevalent among Hainan families, and interaction with infected family members may be the primary cause of transmission. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-023-03010-z.