Helicobacter pylori Infection among Aborigines (the Orang Asli) in the Northeastern Region of Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

Whether the exceptionally low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection reported among Malays is also present among aborigines (the Orang Asli) living in northeastern Peninsular Malaysia is unknown. We studied asymptomatic Orang Asli from settlements situated 210 km from the city of Kota Bharu. The HP infection status was confirmed by a validated serology test. Nineteen percent of 480 Orang Asli tested positive for HP infection. The prevalence was 40.6% in the birth cohort of the 1940s and declined steadily in later cohorts to under 10% among 12-30 year olds. This may be related to the phases of relocation from the jungles into resettlement camps and ultimately into designated villages near rivers. The low prevalence pattern after the 1970s was probably partly a result of improvement in sanitation and hygiene practice in these villages but other unidentified factors may also be operating.

Helicobacter pylori Infection Rates in Patients Undergoing Endoscopy in the Interior of Borneo

“…Considering that our study sample was consisted of patients who had undergone endoscopy, it is likely that the true H. pylori prevalence in the population is even lower, in spite of the relatively disadvantaged socioeconomic environment. This is in line with the exceptionally low prevalence of H. pylori seen in the Malay, Penan, Orang Asli, and Seletar populations despite of the low socioeconomic milieu . In combination with our interesting finding of patients with H. pylori infection were significantly younger and the increasing trend of H. pylori infection toward the population born later (Fig.…”

Helicobacter pylori Infection – A Boon or a Bane: Lessons from Studies in a Low‐Prevalence Population

“…Additionally, the prevalence rate among a group of recent immigrants from Kampuchea currently living in northeastern Peninsular Malaysia was 72.5%, as expected but the prevalence among local‐born Kampucheans was only 25.9% . The seroprevalence among the Orang Asli, the aboriginal community, residing in the state of Kelantan has been reported to be only 19% . This is in contrast with the 37.7% prevalence among the indigenous aboriginal Penan community of East Malaysia (North Borneo) .…”

Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Public Health Implications

“…We have grouped the studies according to the different geographical regions for ease of reference (Table 1). There were 10 studies from the Asia‐Pacific region on adults [2–11] and 4 on children [12–15]. Li et al.…”

“…[7] reported a high H. pylori prevalence of 77.3% among a group of Bangladesh fish handlers, while Rahim et al. [8] in a study of aborigines in the Northeastern part of Malaysia reported a prevalence rate of 19%.…”