Epidemiological Study Of Betel Nut Chewing And Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF) Among Adolescents In Loudi Proper, Hunan

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of betel nut chewing and oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) among adolescents in Loudi proper, Hunan province, and to provide scientific evidence for primary prevention for OSF.Methods: According to the standard of the third national oral health epidemiological investigation, subjects were selected through a two-stage random sampling procedure. In the first stage, the strata were based on the type of school: middle school, primary school. A total of 6 schools were sampled (3 primary schools and 3 middle schools). In the second stage, the strata were based on grade: we choose two classes among each grade. Of the 4087 eligible students, 4019 students participated (98.3%). A face to face questionnaire survey was conducted among 4019 students by random sampling from 6 schools, and oral examination was performed to find the prevalence situation of OSF.Results: Among the 4019 students, there were 498 betel nut chewers, the prevalence of betel nut chewing was 12.4%, and it was much higher in male than in female students (21.1% vs. 3.1% , P < 0.05). The proportion of students who were chewing areca nuts increased with increasing grades (P < 0.05). The prevalence was highest in senior middle schools (21.3%)and lowest in elementary schools (6.4%). The time and the frequency of chewing areca nuts increased with increasing grades (P < 0.05). Most students who were chewing areca nuts in elementary school obtained betel nuts from their parents (48.4%), but most middle school betel chewers obtained betel nuts from their friends (61.5%and 73.0%). Significant oral diseases detected was oral submucous fibrosis in the 4019 students who were examined,there were 5 (0.12%) cases, all of them were man, and all of them were senior middle school students.Conclusions: There were prevalence of betel nut chewing and OSF in the city proper of Loudi, Hunan. Significantly more male than female students were betel nut chewers. The proportion of students who were chewing areca nuts increased with increasing grades. The time and frequency of chewing areca nuts increased with increasing grades. Most elementary school students obtained betel nuts from their parents, most middle school students obtained betel nuts from their friends. In order to reduce the incidence of OSF, propaganda and education of the harm of chewing betel nut must be further strengthened.