High Prevalence of Lifestyle Factors Attributable for Oral Cancer, and of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders in Rural Sri Lanka

摘要

Background: Oral Cancer is a major public health problem in most of the South East Asian countries including SriLanka. Use of tobacco in the form of smokeless tobacco and smoking, use of alcohol and betel quid chewing are themajor contributory factors for causation oral cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of lifestylefactors responsible for causation of oral cancer and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMD) in the Sabaragamuwaprovince of Sri Lanka. Methods: A cross-sectional community based study was conducted in Sabaragamuwa provinceby interviewing, then conducting an oral examination, on 1029 subjects over 30 years of age, over a one year period fromNovember 2006. The study protocol included an interviewer-administered questionnaire to gather socio-demographicfactors, recording of habits that included areca/betel chewing, smoking, and alcohol consumption. A three-day food diarywas obtained, particularly to assess the consumption of tea, fruits and vegetables. The weight and height of residentswas taken for calculation of Body Mass Index (BMI). Results: One hundred and two individuals with one or moreOPMD were detected among these 1029 subjects. The prevalence of OPMD, weighted according to the estate sector andgender, was estimated as 11.3%. The prevalence of daily betel quid chewing in this study was 53.8%: 15.7% withouttobacco and 47.4% with tobacco. The prevalence of individuals who reported consumption of alcohol at least weeklywas 13.4%. A significant minority, 31.7%, were under nourished, with a BMI 18.5. Forty six percent of the malespracticed combined habits of betel quid chewing, smoking and regular use of alcohol. Conclusions: This study discloseshigh prevalence of OPMD and of lifestyle factors for oral cancer in these communities. There is an urgent need fora comprehensive strategy to control the use of tobacco, betel quid chewing and alcohol for prevention of oral cancer.