Patterns and distribution of tobacco use and its association with oral precancerous lesions among the tribes of Odisha

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Both smoked and smokeless tobaccos play crucial roles in forming potentially malignant oral disorders. Studies are scant in India, particularly among vulnerable tribal populations. Odisha, with the highest number of tribes in India, stands at the top in smokeless tobacco use among major states. The present study explores tobacco use status among Indian tribes by evaluating the OPMD risks. . Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out among the tribal populations in Odisha. Data was collected pertaining to sociodemographic profile, tobacco use and prevalence of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD). The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) scale was used to evaluate tobacco dependency.. Results The findings revealed that 75.2% of people are tobacco consumers. Half of the studied population consumes Dukuta and Khaini. Maximum people, including 54.2% of youth, fall in the high nicotine dependence category. Additionally, 45.2% of the participants reported mouth lesions, and 27.1% with potentially malignant disorders (PMD). The incidence of tobacco pouches in the studied population is 22.9%, followed by 12.4% leukoplakia lesions. Conclusion A health policy for community-level intervention toward tobacco cessation and early diagnosis of previously undiagnosed OML (oral malignant lesion) and OPMD would be a positive strategy.