title: Assessment of oral mucosal lesions among eunuchs residing in Bhopal city, Madhya Pradesh, India: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present cross-sectional study following the STROBE guidelines was conducted to assess the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions among males, females, and eunuchs residing in Bhopal city, Madhya Pradesh India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on convenient non-probability snowball sampling technique, all the self-identified eunuchs residing in the city of Bhopal who were present at the time of examination and who fulfilled the selection criteria were examined. A cross section of the general population (males and females) residing in the same locality where these eunuchs live was also examined. The World Health Organization (WHO) oral health assessment proforma (1997) was used to collect the information on oral mucosal lesions. All the obtained data were analyzed by using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall prevalence of oral mucosal lesions was 127 (19.9%) among the study subjects. Fifty-nine (28.5%) eunuchs, 56 (25.7%) males, and 12 (5.6%) females were observed to have some oral mucosal lesions. Oral submucous fibrosis (6.4%), leukoplakia (5.5%), and traumatic ulceration (4.2%) were the major oral mucosal conditions observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The information presented in this study adds to our understanding of the common oral mucosal lesions occurring in the eunuch population. Efforts to increase patient awareness of the oral effects of tobacco use and to eliminate the habit are needed to improve the oral and general health of eunuchs.
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate Student, People's Dental Academy, People's University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Nilesh Arjun
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Torwane
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hongal
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: Byarakele
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chandrashekar
authors.forename: Vrinda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Saxena
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D001114:Areca / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005058:Eunuchism; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000009:adverse effects