Influencing factors of oral mucosal changes among residents with betel quid chewing habits in Taungoo district, Myanmar: a community-based clinicopathological study

Abstract

Lines of evidence have shown that betel-quid chewing is constantly associated with oral cancer. Myanmar is one of the betel-chewing prevalent countries where oral cancer and precancerous lesions are not uncommon. However, the prevalence of oral cancer in Myanmar was obviously lower than that of the other betel-chewing prevalent countries such as India. How or what factors contributed to this lower prevalence of oral cancer in this country is not yet known. Thus, we carried out a community-based, cross-sectional study aimed to elicit the prevalence of oral mucosal changes as well as its risk and preventive factors among residents of betel-quid abundant areas of Myanmar. A total of 897 participants from all betel-quid abundant areas of Taungu District were randomly selected to answer the face-to-face interviews from 2012 to 2013. After each interview, oral examinations were performed. Multiple logistic regression analyses were done by adjusting all the confounding factors. The prevalence of oral mucosal changes was alarmingly high (41%). Indian ingredients in betel-quid and poor oral hygiene were risk factors of oral mucosal changes. Sufficient beta-carotene in daily diets was a preventive factor. The risk of Indian-type quid and the benefit of beta-carotene should be notified to the residents.