KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICES RELATED TO HELICOBACTER PYLORI AND GASTRIC DISEASE IN PALESTINE: IMPLICATIONS FOR EARLY DETECTION AND ERADICATION
Date
2026-05-12
Authors
Jesselle Bannoura
Natalia Qumsieh
Asma Abu Freh
Ibrahim Ghannam
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Deanship of Scientific Research - Al-Quds University
Abstract
Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is highly prevalent worldwide and is a major cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric malignancy. Public knowledge and preventive behaviors play an important role in early detection and eradication; however, data on awareness and practices in Palestine remain limited. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to H. pylori infection, transmission, and management among Palestinians.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the West Bank in 2025 using a validated electronic questionnaire. The survey collected sociodemographic data and assessed knowledge, attitudes (5-point Likert scale), and preventive practices. A total of 205 participants were included, predominantly female (77.1%) and aged 18–25 years (66.8%), with 69.3% holding a bachelor’s degree. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS v27 with independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA to examine associations between KAP scores and demographic variables.