Abstract:
A peptic ulcer is a sore that forms when digestive juices wear away the lining of the digestive system. A peptic ulcer can occur in the lining of the stomach, duodenum, or lower part of the esophagus. Symptoms can include indigestion-like pain, nausea, and weight loss.
Globally, it is estimated that up to 10percent of adults are affected by peptic ulcers at least once in their lifetime. According to the latest WHO publishes of 2020 peptic ulcer disease death reached 687 i.e. 0.33% of the total death in Uganda hence becoming serious national and global concern. When a peptic ulcer affects the stomach, it is called a gastric ulcer, one in the duodenum is called a duodenal ulcer, and an esophageal ulcer is an ulcer in the esophagus. The most common causes is Helicobacterpylori (H.pylori) bacteria and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDS)s which are common pain and fever relievers e.g. aspirins, ibrufens.
Research has been made on the causes and prevention measures of peptic ulcers but no investigations have been taken on the management practices of ulcers among the university students. the objective of this study is to investigate how peptic ulcers disease is managed university students of Busitema Nagongera campus.
Data collection is to be carried out by use of the questionnaire by a simple probability method and at some points a snow ball type of non-probability sampling technique is also used to find out the eating habits of students diagnosed with ulcers and the effects which result from the use of such types of food using the questionnaires and some unstructured interviews.
Results
A total of 70 students from the faculty of science and education were assessed. it was found out that the majority of the students don’t go for diagnosis of ulcers where only 39.13% of the respondents have ever been diagnosed of ulcers compared to 60.87% who don’t go for diagnosis.
The percentage of positive diagnosis was higher in males than in females at a percentage of 75% and 40% respectively compared to the number of diagnosed respondents. recommendations to prevent ulcers: avoiding NSAIDS, having meals on time, avoiding spicy foods, avoiding snacking where a meal is required, avoiding stress, avoiding too much oily foods, going for regular medical check-ups, avoiding alcohol consumption, avoiding fried foods were given as measures to prevent ulcers.
Key words: Helicobacter pylori, correlation, peptic ulcer, nutrition, students, snowball nonprobability sampling technique