Betel quid chewing among Bangladeshi adolescents living in east London.
OBJECTIVE
Ascertain level and predictors of betel quid (pan) chewing in Bangladeshi adolescents.


METHODS
Cross sectional questionnaire study.


METHODS
Bangladeshi cultural centres in East London.


METHODS
Consecutive adolescents attending 4 randomly selected centres.


METHODS
Self-completed questionnaire.


RESULTS
204 (70%) of 290 teenagers invited to participate did so. Fifty-eight (28%) chewed pan; 30 (51%) of whom chewed on most days. The median age of first chewing was 9 years. Only 7 (2%) added tobacco to their quids. Pan chewers tended to come from lower socio-economic status families, liked the taste of pan and were less inclined to think that it adversely affected their appearance or that it could cause cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of pan chewing was lower than that found among adults reported in earlier studies in the UK. This reduction in the level of pan chewing could be attributed to acculturation. Few teenagers knew about the association between pan chewing and cancer but the widespread concern about the effect of pan chewing on the appearance of their mouth suggests this is a useful health promotion message within common risk/health factor approach.
Prabhu
N T
NT
Division of Dental Public Health and Oral Health Services Research, Guy's, King's, St. Thomas School of Dentistry, London, UK.
Warnakulasuriya
K
K
Gelbier
S
S
Robinson
P G
PG
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001114:Areca; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D015995:Prevalence; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires