Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and its associated risk factors among the adult population of Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Epidemiological data on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) reveal variations in prevalence rates and risk factors, which are still to be elucidated in the South African setting. Population-specific data are needed to contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of GERD. This study aims to determine GERD's prevalence and associated risk factors among Mthatha residents. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with a systematically sampled 353 adults attending the outpatient department of a secondary health care facility using the standardized GERD questionnaire (GerdQ) for screening and diagnosis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed with the aid of SPSS version 26. The prevalence of GERD was 32.0 percent (CI: 27.3% to 37.0%). Only 6.5 percent had a

SUBMITTER: Ndyalvan N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12668490 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature