Practice Of Chewing Research Articles

Unsafe Chewing: Choking and Other Risks

Unsafe Chewing: Choking and Other Risks

Factors affecting tobacco smoking in Ethiopia: evidence from the demographic and health surveys

BackgroundTobacco smoking is growing at an alarming rate in the developing world and sub-Saharan Africa. Although Ethiopia has a relatively low rate in the region, it is not immune to the tobacco epidemic. The government of Ethiopia passed an anti-tobacco bill in 2015 that includes measures governing tobacco consumption, advertising, packaging, and labeling. To effectively address the challenge of tobacco control, the government should consider a number of aspects of tobacco production and consumption, such as local production in rural areas, as well as the complementarity nature of tobacco and khat use.MethodsUsing the World Bank’s Demographic and Health Surveys (2011 and 2016), this paper analyzes the key determinants of tobacco smoking in Ethiopia, emphasizing possible differences in various social contexts, across regions. More specifically, we assess the association between khat use and tobacco smoking while controlling for various observed individual-level, household-level, and community-level covariates. Using GPS data, we are able to capture the neighboring effects of smoking behavior in community clusters bordering other administrative regions as well as differences in smoking patterns between lowland and highland residents. We utilize a multilevel modeling framework and use a two-stage residual inclusion estimation method that accounts for the endogeneity of khat and tobacco use.ResultsThe results suggest that chewing khat and geographic regions are statistically significant determinants of tobacco smoking even after controlling for various socioeconomic and demographic factors. Altitude information analysis suggests that people living in lowlands are more likely to smoke compared to those living in highland areas. Additional analysis including interactions between regions and khat use indicate wide inter-regional variations in tobacco smoking by khat users. We also extend our analysis by interacting khat use with religious adherence. Results indicate a wide variation in tobacco smoking by khat chewers across different religious groups.ConclusionsTo effectively control tobacco smoking of the diverse communities in Ethiopia, policymakers should consider a multi-pronged policy approach that combines various policy tools that account for regional variation, the local social contexts, as well as the complementary nature of smoking and khat chewing practices.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of gutkha chewing among youth in Hiroli village of Kalaburagi district

Background: Gutkha is a preparation of crushed tobacco, lime, catechu, areca nut and flavouring agent. Gutkha chewing may lead to various diseases like cancer of oral cavity, gingival diseases, addiction, submucosal fibrosis and overall poor health of an individual. The use of gutkha in youths is highly prevalent due to a lack of awareness and education and has misconceptions, particularly in rural areas like chewing tobacco products aids in digestion, acts as germ-killer, mood enhancement and tension relief.Methods: The study was undertaken to know the knowledge, attitude and practice among gutkha chewers of Hiroli village in Kalaburagi district, Karnataka, India. The study sample comprised a total of 479 participants.Results: The result of the study showed that the prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption is high in rural population (49.2%). And most of the participants (51%) agreed that gutkha chewing is injurious to health, but the knowledge of gutkha causing oral and throat cancer was limited (40.6% and 36.4% respectively).Conclusions: The result indicated to increase awareness programs on associated health risks that focus on improving the knowledge, attitude and practice of gutkha chewing.

Correlation of Betel Quid with Oral Cancer from 1998 to 2017: A Study Based on Bibliometric Analysis.

Background:Betel quid chewing has been a major risk factor for oral cancer (OC) in southern China. This study aimed to analyze the scientific publications on the relationship between betel quid chewing and OC and construct a model to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate pertinent publications from 1998 to 2017.Methods:The publications from 1998 to 2017 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Microsoft Excel, Thomson Data Analyzer, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace software were used to analyze the publication outcomes, journals, countries/regions, institutions, authors, research areas, and research frontiers.Results:A total of 788 publications on the relationship between betel quid chewing and OC published until October 25, 2017, were identified. The top 4 related journals were Journal of Oral Pathology Medicine, Oral Oncology, Plos One, and International Journal of Cancer. The top five countries engaged in related research included China, India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia. The corresponding disciplines, such as oncology, oral surgery, pathology, environmental and occupational health, and toxicology, were mainly concentrated in three disciplines. The subject terms squamous cell carcinoma, OC, betel quid, expression, oral submucous fibrosis, India, and p53 ranked first among research hotspots. The burst terms squamous cell carcinoma, OC, betel quid, and expression ranked first in research frontiers.Conclusions:Research in this area emphasized hotspots such as squamous cell carcinoma, OC, oral submucosal fibrosis, betel quid, and tobacco. The annual number of publications steadily decreased from 1998 to 2017, with a lack of a systematic study from interdisciplinary perspectives, inadequate pertinent journals, limited regions with the practice of betel quid chewing, and insufficient participation of researchers, which indicate that as the prevalence of OC increases, particularly in China, research in this area warrants further expansion.

Prevalence and predictors of khat chewing among Ethiopian university students: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundKhat chewing has become a common practice among university students in developing countries like Ethiopia. It has a potential effect on physical, mental, social and cognitive aspects of student functioning. In Ethiopia, study findings regarding the prevalence of khat chewing were highly dispersed and inconsistent. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis estimates the pooled prevalence of khat chewing and its predictors among Ethiopian university students.MethodA systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the prevalence and predictors of khat chewing among university students in Ethiopia. We searched literature from the databases of PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Library. A total of 24 Ethiopian studies reporting the prevalence of khat chewing among university students were included. Data were extracted using a standardized data extraction format prepared in Microsoft Excel and the analysis was done using STATA 14 statistical software. To assess heterogeneity, the Cochrane Q test statistics and I2 test were used. Since the included studies exhibit high heterogeneity, a random effect meta-analysis model was computed to estimate the pooled prevalence of khat chewing. Moreover, the association between predictor variables, and khat chewing practice were examined.ResultsThe meta-analysis of 24 studies revealed that the pooled prevalence of khat chewing among university students in Ethiopia was 23.22% (95% CI: 19.5, 27.0). In the subgroup analysis, the highest prevalence was observed in Oromia region (31.6%; 95CI: 21.2, 41.9) whereas the lowest prevalence was observed in Amhara region (18.1%; 95%CI: 12.4, 23.8). Being male OR: 2.76 (95% CI 1.64, 4.63), family khat chewing practice OR: 2.91 (95% CI 1.06, 7.98), friend khat chewing habit OR: 4.74 (95% CI 3.48, 13.06), alcohol drinking OR: 7.06 (95% CI 5.65, 8.82) and cigarette smoking habit OR: 15.11 (95% CI 8.96, 25.51) were found to be predictors of khat chewing.ConclusionThe study found that the prevalence of khat chewing among university students was quite common, with slightly more than 1 in 5 students engaging in the use of this substance. Being male, family khat chewing practice, friend’s khat chewing habit, alcohol drinking, and cigarette smoking were found to be predictors of khat chewing practice among university students.

Economic and Social Impacts of Khat (<i>Catha edulis Forsk</i>) Chewing Among Youth in Sebeta Town, Oromia Ethiopia

Khat (<i>Catha edulis Forsk</i>) is a large green shrub grown in Eastern to Southern Africa and extends to Arabian Peninsula. The leaf of Khat comes from a small evergreen shrub that can grow to the size of a tree. Both young buds and tender leaves are chewed to attain a state of euphoria and stimulation. Khat leaves contain Cathinone which it’s an active brain stimulant and Khat ingestion in low doses results in decreased appetite, euphoria, increased intellectual efficiency, and hyper-alertness.High doses and chronic use of Khat can cause more serious adverse neurological, psychiatric, cardiovascular, dental, gastrointestinal and genitourinary effects. Besides damaging health, Khat chewing has adverse socio-economic consequences effects on many other aspects of life. It has its own impact on mental and physical health of the chewers. This study was conducted from September to June 2017 using both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. A total of 250 samples were included in the study. Structured questionnaire were employed during data collection with the main objectives of to assess the socio-economic effects of Khat chewing among youth of Sebeta town, Oromia, Ethiopia. The studies revealed that Khat chewing was associated with carelessness, frequent absenteeism from working place, poor academic performance of chewer students, poor interaction with the societies, depression and anxiety, poor confidence, exposed for economic problem, health problems, conflict in the family. Generally,the current Khat chewing practices in the study area are relatively high. So efforts like creating awareness about negative effects, making different recreation methods available, addressing the underlying social problems of unemployment, poor housing, and cultural alienation and promote positive measures for community development and develop a health education program to raise awareness and formulating common conventions regarding Khat use mainly by young generations are necessary to decrease the magnitude of chewing practices and thereby its associated consequences.

Areca (betel) nut chewing practices of adults and health behaviors of their children in the Freely Associated States, Micronesia: Findings from the Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) Program

BackgroundChewing areca (betel) nut has been deemed carcinogenic. The practice has become a public health concern in Micronesia. The Children's Healthy Living (CHL) Program included an areca (betel) nut questionnaire in a survey of household characteristics in the Freely Associated States (FAS). This paper describes areca (betel) nut chewing practices of adults and the health behaviors of their children. MethodsA cross-section of 1200 children (2–8 year-olds) and their caregivers in Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and Yap were recruited. Socio-demographics, adult areca (betel) nut chewing practices, and other health behaviors of children and adults were assessed. Child anthropometric measurements were collected to estimate weight status. ResultsThe FAS areca (betel) nut chewing prevalence was 42%, ranging from 3% (RMI) to 94% (Yap). Among chewers, 84% added tobacco, 97% added slaked lime, 85% added betel leaf, and 24% mixed the components with alcohol. Among FAS children, 95% practiced daily teeth-brushing and 53% visited the dentist annually. Compared to non-chewing households, areca (betel) nut chewing households were more likely to have very young children enrolled, more highly educated adults, and members that used tobacco and alcohol. ConclusionThe FAS areca (betel) nut chewing prevalence (42%) is above the world prevalence of 10–20%, with wide variability across the islands. The oral health findings in this study may inform future oral cancer prevention programs or policies. Regular monitoring of areca (betel) nut use is needed to measure the impact of such programs or policies.

Cessation of Betel Quid Chewing: Lessons from the ex-chewers

Introduction: The practice of chewing of betel quid is deep-rooted age-old traditions of most Asian countries including Bhutan. Health is an integral part of happy living and healthcare providers are generally looked up to as role models for healthier living. This paper focuses on the prevalence of ex-betel quid chewers and correlates of successful cessation of betel quid chewing among healthcare professionals in Thimphu, Bhutan. Methods: Data for this study was collected from six healthcare centres within Thimphu, during June – July 2016, using self-administered questionnaire. 478 questionnaires were handed over to the healthcare professionals, and 391 (82%) were returned. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical package for social science version 21.0. Results: The prevalence of ex-betel quid chewers was 16.9%. More than half (51.5%) of the ex-chewers discontinuedchewing betel quid because of fear of the ill effects of chewing it. About 29% gave up chewing betel quid because of healthrelated problems. Betel quid chewing was first sourced either with a friend or a parent (59.1%, 24.2% respectively). Number of family members chewing betel quid, smoking and drinking status were significantly associated with quitting of betel quid chewing. Conclusions: Findings suggest that family and health risk behaviours such as drinking and smoking were significant correlates of quitting betel quid chewing. Hence, effective public health awareness could be targeted to both individual and their family members to enable them to quit betel quid chewing.

Effectiveness of a structured teaching program (STP) on cessation of tobacco chewing, on knowledge and attitude among female hospital housekeeping personnel - a pilot study.

To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured teaching program (STP) on: a) improving knowledge of female hospital housekeeping personnel regarding harmful impact of tobacco chewing and how to quit, and b) fostering an unfavorable attitude toward tobacco chewing. The STP focused on adverse health effects of tobacco chewing, myths and facts, and tobacco cessation. It was administered in regional language to female hospital housekeeping personnel (N=35) over three days. Post-assessments were conducted at 4 weeks following the last session of the STP. Current tobacco use was reported by 26% of the sample. Tobacco chewers (vs. non-chewers) were more likely to be significantly older, have elementary education, belong to nuclear family, have lesser knowledge regarding harmful effects, and have a more favorable attitude toward the practice of tobacco chewing. At the end of 4 weeks following the STP, participants significantly improved their knowledge regarding the harmful health impact of tobacco chewing and how to quit (p=0.001), and showed a significantly less favorable attitude toward tobacco chewing (p=0.001). Change in participants' knowledge scores was found to be negatively correlated with change in attitude scores, implying that increase in knowledge was associated with less favorable attitude toward tobacco chewing (r=-0.427, p=0.011). Findings provide preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of health education on harmful impact of tobacco chewing and how to quit, delivered through a STP, in improving knowledge and fostering an unfavorable attitude toward tobacco chewing, among female hospital housekeeping personnel.

Tobacco Abuse and Associated Oral Lesions among Interstate Migrant Construction Workers.

The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of tobacco use and associated oral mucosal lesions among construction workers of Cochin, Kerala, India. A cross-sectional study was carried at various construction sites of Cochin and 2,163 workers were selected using multistage sampling method and were interviewed and examined. Information regarding demographic details, form, type, frequency of tobacco use, earlier attempt to quit, and willingness to quit tobacco use was obtained using predesigned questionnaire. The oral health status was recorded on the World Health Organization oral health assessment form 1997, and the examination was carried out under natural light using mouth mirrors and probe. Data thus collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 17 (Chicago, Illinois, USA) statistical software package. Chi-square test was applied. Among the 2,163 workers, 1,952 were tobacco users and 211 were nonusers. Among the users, 1,021 use smokeless form, 372 use smoked form, and 559 use both. Premalignant lesions/conditions were more commonly seen with tobacco habit, with leukoplakia (14.75%) being the most common followed by oral submucous fibrosis in 201 (9.3%), candidiasis in 123 (5.7%), ulceration in 131 (6.05%), abscess in 59 (2.73%), smokers palate in 58 (2.68%), lichen planus in 21 (0.97%), and malignant tumor in 2 (0.1%). Commonness of abusive habits and oral premalig-nant lesions or conditions was considerable among the workers. Control and early diagnosis through workplace screening are the major backbones for the control of oral cancer. Building workers are unprotected from various health hazards at workplace. Lack of access to health services makes the situation unsatisfactory. Poor literacy and low socioeconomic status have resulted in practice of tobacco, smoking, and chewing in the majority of them. Hence, it is our responsibility to find and guide them with a proper oral health education.

Betel Quid and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders in a Periurban Township in Myanmar.

This study aims to describe betel quid chewing practice and compare oral potentially malignant disorders between chewers and non-chewers of betel quid among residents in Dagon Myothit (East) Township, Myanmar. The study used a cross-sectional design conducted with a representative sample of 542 adults aged 18 years and above in the township. The trained interviewers collected data using a pretested structured questionnaire. On-site oral examination was done for suspected oral lesions. The mean age of the respondents was 45 years and 59% were women. Fifty-two percent of the respondents were currently in the habit of chewing betel quids (72% of men and 39% of women). Among 284 current betel quid chewers, 240 (85%) chewed betel quids together with tobacco. Out of 284 current betel quid chewers, 24 (8.5%) were found to have oral potentially malignant disorders; out of 258 betel quid non-chewers, only 1 (0.4%) was found to have oral potentially malignant disorders. This highlights the growing importance of smokeless tobacco use as public health problem.

Cultural Considerations in the Conduct of Clinical Research: The Guam Experience

Cultural sensitivity provides one of the foundations for a successful clinical research within tribal communities. Researchers involved in the efforts that cross paths with cultural practices of human subjects must be aware of the potential impact as well as the challenges these will pose to the clinical research process. These were some of the insights gained from the research experience of the biomedical research team from University of Guam (UOGCRC) and the University of Hawai’i (UHCC) after conducting a study in Guam which aimed to describe the betel nut chewing practices of its indigents and identify specific biomarkers that occur in the saliva of humans after betel nut (BN) mastication.

Neandertal subsistence strategies during the Quina Mousterian at Roc de Marsal (France)

Recent excavations at the cave site of Roc de Marsal (in the Dordogne region of SW France) have yielded several Mousterian assemblages rich in well-preserved faunal remains. The Layer 4 faunal assemblage, associated with a rich Quina Mousterian occupation, provides an opportunity to investigate Neandertal prey selection, transport decisions and reindeer carcass processing strategies. One of the most striking characteristics of the Roc de Marsal Layer 4 faunal assemblage is an apparent lack of spongy parts that cannot be explained by taphonomic processes or carnivore activities. Limb elements were selectively transported to the site, where they underwent considerable further processing, resulting in a notably high degree of fragmentation of almost all elements. Comparison of reindeer carcass processing strategies employed by Neandertals during the Quina Mousterian with those identified for the later periods of the Upper Palaeolithic gives rise to some unexpected interpretations of Neandertal consumption behaviours. We show that this kind of intensive fragmentation is associated with bone grease rendering in ethnographic and Upper Palaeolithic contexts, in most such cases with the aid of fire. However, evidence of fire is remarkably scarce in Roc de Marsal Layer 4. Layer 4 could reflect a systematic Neandertal practice of sucking and chewing on the spongy portions of bones in order to extract as much of the highly nutritious bone grease as possible. Additionally, Roc de Marsal Layer 4 shows examples of use of animal resources for non-alimentary purposes by Neandertals. The abundance of cutmarks on the anterior surfaces of reindeer metapodials seems to indicate the acquisition of tendons, and bones were frequently used as retouchers.

Mastication induces long-term increases in blood perfusion of the trigeminal principal nucleus

Understanding mechanisms for vessel tone regulation within the trigeminal nuclei is of great interest because some headache syndromes are due to dysregulation of such mechanisms. Previous experiments on animal models suggest that mastication may alter neuron metabolism and blood supply in these nuclei. To investigate this hypothesis in humans, arterial spin-labeling magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure blood perfusion within the principal trigeminal nucleus (Vp) and in the dorsolateral-midbrain (DM, including the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus) in healthy volunteers, before and immediately after a mastication exercise consisting of chewing a gum on one side of the mouth for 1h at 1bite/s. The side preference for masticating was evaluated with a chewing test and the volume of the masseter muscle was measured on T1-weighted MRI scans.The results demonstrated that the mastication exercise caused a perfusion increase within the Vp, but not in the DM. This change was correlated to the preference score for the side where the exercise took place. Moreover, the basal Vp perfusion was correlated to the masseter volume.These results indicate that the local vascular tone of the trigeminal nuclei can be constitutively altered by the chewing practice and by strong or sustained chewing.

Memory deficits associated with khat (Catha edulis) use in rodents.

Khat products and chewing practices are common in East Africa, Middle East for centuries with concomitant socio-economic and public health repercussions. We assessed memory deficits associated with khat use in rodents. Young male CBA mice, 5-7 weeks old (n = 20), weighing 25-35 g were used. Mice were treated with either 40, 120 or 360 mg/kg body weight (bw) methanolic khat extract, or 0.5 ml saline for 10 days. Spatial acquisition, reversal and reference memory were assessed using modified Morris Water maze (MMWM). Mice treated with 40 mg/kg khat extract had longer (t4 = 4.12 p = 0.015) and t4 = 2.28 p = 0.065) escape latency on first and second day during reversal relative to the baseline. Under 120 mg/kg khat dose, the escape latency was shorter (t4 = -2.49 p = 0.05) vs (t3 = -2.5 p = 0.05) on third and fourth day. Further, treatment with 360 mg/kg khat extract resulted in significantly longer time (49.13, 33.5, 40.2 and 35.75) vs. (23.5 s), compared to baseline. Mice treated with khat or control preferred the target quadrant post acquisition while differential pattern was seen during reversal phase. Mice treated with 40 or 120 mg/kg khat showed significant preference for target quadrant. Substantial time (19.9) was spent in the old target compared to the new (16.9 s) by animals treated with highest dose however, the difference was not significant. There is a biological plausibility that chronic khat use may induce memory deficits and impair cognitive flexibility. The differential patterns of memory deficits may reflect the differences in dose effect as well as time dependent impairment.

Yauk gyar mann yin (Be a man!): masculinity and betel quid chewing among men in Mandalay, Myanmar

Betel quid chewing is associated with various oral cancers and other health concerns, including reproductive health issues. Nevertheless, the practice is widespread in Myanmar, especially among men. This qualitative study elucidates the gendered aspects of betel quid chewing by examining how it links with masculine ideology among male betel quid chewers in Mandalay, Myanmar. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus-group discussions, key-informant interviews and participant observation. The thematic content analysis was guided by Connell’s concept of hegemonic masculinity and Butler’s notion of gender performativity. The findings indicated that young Mandalay men were drawn to betel quid chewing by the value they gave to satisfying their curiosity, power competition, risk-taking and a display of manliness. Thus, the practice of betel quid chewing, as defined by our participants, was perceived as manly, trendy, stylish and sexually attractive. For adult men, betel quid chewing was a social lubricant that assisted them in talking with clients and co-workers, thus enhancing their economic opportunities with other men. It also helped working-class men to work harder. Betel quid chewing harm-reduction programmes therefore need to be mindful of masculinity issues as well as the economic aspects of betel quid chewing.

Khat Chewing Practice and Associated Factors among Adults in Ethiopia: Further Analysis Using the 2011 Demographic and Health Survey.

BackgroundKhat chewing has become a highly prevalent practice and a growing public health concern in Ethiopia. Although there have been many small scale studies, very limited national information has been available in the general population. This study aimed to identify factors associated with khat chewing practice among Ethiopian adults.MethodsThe study used the 2011 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data. The survey was cross-sectional by design and used a multistage cluster sampling procedure. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to quantify the predictors.ResultsThe overall khat chewing prevalence was 15.3% (95% CI: 14.90–15.71). Regional variation was observed with the highest in Harari [(53.2% (95% CI: 43.04–63.28)] and lowest in Tigray regional state [(1.1% (95% CI: 0.72–1.66)]. Multivariable analysis showed that Islam followers were 23.8 times more likely to chew khat as compared to Orthodox followers. Being a resident in Oromiya, South Nation, Nationalities and People (SNNP), Gambella, Harari and Dire Dawa regions had 1.9, 1.6, 3.1, 5.2 and 3.5 times higher odds of chewing khat as compared to Addis Ababa residents, respectively. Adults in the age group 45–49 years were 3.6 times more likely to chew khat as compared to 15–19 years. The middle and richest wealth quintiles were 1.3 and 1.5 times more likely to chew khat, respectively, as compared to the poorest category. Rural residents had 1.3 odds of chewing khat than urban residents. Those individuals who had occupation in sales, agriculture, service sector, skilled and unskilled manual workers were 1.6, 1.3, 2.4, 1.7 and 2.3 times more likely to chew khat, respectively, as compared to those who have no occupation. Females were 77% less likely to chew khat as compared to males. Formerly married and those experienced in child death had 1.4 and 1.2 times higher odds to chew khat as compared with those never married and never had child death, respectively. Those who attended mass media were 1.4 times more likely to chew khat compared with not attended.ConclusionKhat chewing is a public health concern in Ethiopia. The highest wealth quintiles, older age group, rural residence, child death, formerly married, males, regions of Oromiya, SNNP, Gambella, Harari and Dire Dawa and Islamic followers had statistically significant association with khat chewing. Due attention needs to be given for these factors in any intervention procedures.

Sexual behaviours and associated factors among students at Bahir Dar University: a cross sectional study.

BackgroundSexual behaviour is the core of sexuality matters in adolescents and youths. Their modest or dynamic behaviour vulnerable them to risky sexual behaviours. In Ethiopia, there is scarcity of multicentered representative data on sexual behaviours in students to have a national picture at higher education. This study therefore conducted to assess sexual behaviours and associated factors at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted among Bahir Dar University students from December to February 2013. Multistage sampling and self administered questionnaires were employed. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and mean were used to describe the study participants in relation to relevant variables. Multivariate analysis was carried for those variables that had a p-value of ≤ 0.2 in the bivariate analysis to identify the predictor variables.ResultsOf the 817 study participants, 297 (36.4%) students had ever had sex. The mean age at first sexual practice was 18.6 years. Unprotected sex, having multiple sex partners, sex with commercial sex workers and sex for the exchange of money was practiced by 184 (62%), 126 (42.7%), 22 (7.4%) and 12 (4%) of sexually active students, respectively. The proportion of attending night clubs and watching porn videos was 130 (15.8%) and 534 (65.4%), respectively. Male respondents had significant positive association with watching porn videos (AOR = 4.8, CI = 3.49 - 6.54) and attending night clubs (AOR = 3.9, CI = 2.3 – 6.7). Watching porn videos, attending night clubs, khat chewing and taking alcohol frequently were significantly associated for ever had sex and having multiple sexual partners. Khat chewing practice (AOR = 8.5, CI =1.31 - 55.5) and attending night clubs (AOR = 4.6, CI = 1.8 - 11.77) had statistical significant association with the purpose of sexual intercourse for the sake of money and for having sex with commercial sex workers, respectively.ConclusionsSignificant number of students had different risky sexual behaviours. Substance use, attending night clubs and watching porno video were predictor factors for practicing different sexual behaviours. Therefore, preventive intervention programmes should be strengthened, effectively implemented and monitored both in the earlier school and in the universities.

OR06-1 * NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS, DEPENDENCE AND BEHAVIOR CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH KHAT CHEWING IN JAZAN REGION, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

BACKGROUND: Khat chewing is highly prevalent among males (up to 37.7%) at Jazan region in the far southwest of Saudi Arabia. Most of Khat quitters showed some withdrawal symptoms and better health after quitting. However, Khat chewers consider khat chewing as a social habit and deny khat dependence. OBJECTIVES: To assess neurological symptoms associated with khat chewing, evaluate the behavior of khat chewers towards the chewing practice, measure psychological dependence among khat chewers. METHODS: A male volunteer study was conducted in Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. Seventy two khat chewers and seventy five non-chewers were recruited in the study. All participants filled a structured questionnaire asking about the neurologic symptom that was developed from the Lundberg Q16 questionnaire. Behaviors related to khat chewing were evaluated using modified questionnaire from Fagerstorm; 1978, Griffiths; 1998 and Kassim and Croucher; 2006 questionnaires. Khat dependence was measured using Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) of khat lastly modified by Kassim et al; 2010. RESULTS: Khat chewers showed higher prevalence of neurological symptoms than non-chewers. The main neurological symptoms were loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, feeling irritable, fast heart rate, and difficulty with balance. 52% of khat chewers were dependant with median SDS score of 4.5. Most of chewers (70%) were behaviorally low on the behavior scale. Dependant chewers showed higher frequency of neurological symptoms, mainly; dizziness, nausea and vomiting, being abstained and inability to sleep by night. CONCLUSION: Khat chewing is associated with disturbance in behavior. Around half of khat chewers are dependent on khat. OBJECTIVE evaluation is required to measure khat dependency. Language: en

Descriptive Study on Socio-Demographic and Risk factors Associated with the Oral Cancers, Batticaloa District

Objective: Sri Lanka has the highest reported incidence of oral cancer in the world. The aim of the study to investigate the relationship of risk factors with oral cancers. Materials & Methods: 596 individuals of Batticaloa district were investigated for this study through intervieweradministrated questionnaire within the time frame for the data collection, applying multi stage cluster sampling technique. Results &Discussion: Out of these 596, 63.42% (Nos. 378) are males. 2% (Nos. 11) of the people interviewed have been reported with oral cancer. 91% (Nos. 10) of the total number of oral cancer victims are from rural area. 63.64% (Nos. 7) are in the range of 61-75 years of age among oral cancer. There has no imply any clue about coalition between sex and oral cancer. 30.20% (Nos. 180) have the habit of Tobacco consumption and of which only 5 % (Nos. 7) were identified with oral cancer. Chewing is popular method [77.78% (Nos. 7)] among oral cancer victims. 32.38% (Nos. 193) are having the habit of chewing beetle. 81.82% (Nos. 9) oral cancer patients have the habit of chewing beetle. 90.67% (Nos. 175) people use one or more other substances such as slake lime, areca nut and Tobacco together. 66.67% (Nos. 6) oral cancer patients have the same practice of chewing while sleeping in the night. It is noted that 100% (Nos. 6) of the people with oral cancer and who are beetle chewers while sleeping in the night, keep the beetle pulp near their molar. 32.21% (Nos. 192) people including 3 (27.27 %) out of 11 oral cancer victims are having the habit of consuming Alcohol. Conclusions: Oral cancers are common among people aged 61-75 years. Tobacco consumption and Beetle chewing are most inducing factors of oral cancer.