Betel nut & tobacco chewing habits in Durban, Kwazulu-Natal
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Date
2009
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Publisher
University of the Western Cape
Abstract
Betel nuVquid chewing is a habit that is commonly practiced in the Indian subcontinent. This age-old social habit is still practiced by Indians in Durban, Kwazulu Natal (South Africa). The betel nut/quid is prepared in a variety of ways. The quid may be prepared with or without
tobacco. This habit is said to be associated with the development of premalignant lesions, namely, Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF) which increases the susceptibility for malignancy of the oral mucosa and the foregut. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of
betel nut/quid chewing (with or without tobacco), the associated habits (smoking and alcohol consumption) and awareness of the harmful effects of the chewing habit among Indians in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. A cross-sectional study design was chosen utilising a self-administered questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to collect data. Consenting participants were requested to complete a self-administered, structured questionnaire. The study population included any person in the Durban area who chewed betel nut/quid/tobacco. Only persons willingly and who consented to be part of the study, were included. The sample size was based on convenience. People were approached at the pan shops, leisure markets, traditional functions and at the dental practice the researcher operated at. A total of 101 respondents were interviewed A significantly higher proportion of females chewed betel nut/quid from the total of the respondents. The results showed that the habit is increasingly practiced in the younger age group (20-39 years). There was evidence to show that the chewing habit is used more by the employed than the unemployed (f0.055). Of the sample population, 'l8o/o wera born in South Africa and the rest were immigrants from Pakistan, lndia and Dubai. All respondents from the migrant community were males. The most important reasons for chewing betel nut were for enjoyment and at special functions. More than two third indicated family members (aunts, uncles and cousins) influence iN a reason for chewing in comparison to influences by parents or grandparents. The study also indicated that parents were far more likely to influence betel
nut chewing if grandparents did so (p-value: 0.000). ln addition, the study revealed that family members (aunts, uncles and cousins) were far more likely to influence betel nut chewing if parents did so (f0.000). The most popular ingredients chewed were betel nut, betel leaf, lime and pan masala and the most popular combinations were betel nut/lime/betel leaf quid preparation betel nut alone, betel nut/betel leaf/lime/tobacco/pan masala and betel nut/betel leaf/lime/pan masala. Two thirds of the respondents do not know that betel nut chewing is harmful to their health, thus indicating a lack of awareness on the risks associated with the chewing habit, and the majority have not attempted to give up the habit. Most of the respondents retained their chewing habits after being informed about the risks. A little more than half the study population reported neither smoking nor drinking. The present study found that betel nut/quid chewing habits continue to be enjoyed by many people and most are unawire of the hazardous effects of the habit. More younger people are using the habit as compared to previous studies. This is probably because it is an affordable and easily accessible habit. It is recommended that aggressive awareness programmes on the harmful effects of betel nut/quid chewing be developed, similar to that for smoking cessation. Government health warnings need to be instituted, for example, by having written warnings on packaging. Takes need to be imposed on the betel nut and condiments thereby reducing access to most people. Age reflections need to be imposed on purchasing of the betel nut/quid thus making access difficult for the children.
Description
Magister Chirurgiae Dentium (MChD)
Keywords
Betel nut, Betel quid, Areca nut, Pan masala, Oral submucous fibrosis, Betel leaf