Epidemiological Investigation Of Betel Nut Chewing In Yongzhou, Hunan Province

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of betel nut chewing and oral submucous fibrosis(OSF) among over 15-year-old people in Yongzhou City,Hunan Province.To explore its epidemiological characteristics and related factors,and to provide scientific evidence for primary prevention of OSF.Materials and methodsAccording to the standard of the third national oral health epidemiological investigation, samples were taken using stratified sampling.In the first stage the strata was based on the specific city and town.In the second stage the strata was based on the specific family in a street and a villlage, including 239 urban residents and 352 rural residenis, which 591 questionnaires surveys were finished.Questionnaires surveys were used to investigate the prevalance of betel nut chewing and oral examination were performed to investigate whether there was OSF.Results1.Among the 591 residents in Yongzhou City,53 people has betel nut chewing habits,the prevalence of betel nut chewing was 9.0%.There was significantly difference between male and female(P<0.05). There was no significant difference between urban residants and rural residants in the prevanlence of betel chewing(p>0.05),but there was significant difference between urban residants and rural residants in the prevalence of betel used chewing(P<0.05).2.In urban, the age group of the 30-39(33.3%) and 20-29(39.9%) had higher rates of betel nut chewing, which accounted for 73.2%; In rural, the age group of the 15-19(30.0%) and 20-29(37.0%) age group had higher rates of betel nut chewing, which accounted for 67%.There was significant difference among the different age group in the prevanlence of betel chewing (P<0.05).3 The rate of betel nut chewing in different level of education,in urban high schools and colleges were all 33.3%,while in rural areas 63.0% people were junior high school,there were differences between the urban and rural, but there was no significant difference among the different education in the prevanlence of betel chewing (P>0.05).4.There were 45 urban and rural residants who were currently chewing, betel nut chewing only were 10 people, accounting for 22.2% of those currently chewers, cigarette smoking combined were 18 people, accounting for 40.0%, drinkers combined were 3 people, accounting for 6.7%, combined cigarette smoking and drinking habits were 14 people, accounting for 31.1%.5.Among the samples,4 people had OSF, including 4 male and 0 female nut betel chewers,while 2 urban persons and 2 rural persons had OSF.The prevalence rate of OSF was 0.7% in urban and rural residants,There was no difference between the urban and the rural residenis in the prevalence rate of OSF.Conclusions1.Urban and rural residents in Yongzhou had habit of betel nut chewing,but the rate of betel nut chewing was much lower than areas of Xiangtan, there was significant difference between male and female in the prevanlence of betel chewing habit,and no significant difference between urban residants and rural residants in the prevanlence of betel chewing.2.There was a large proportion of young men in urban and rural residents who were currently betel nut chewing in Yongzhou, which indicated that people having betel nut chewing habit were younger.3.Betel nut chewing rate had no correlation with the level of education.4.The prevalence of OSF was 0.7%, lower than Changsha and Xiangtan which was the center of betel nut chewing.5.OSF patients often accompanied by smoking and drinking habits...