Ali Anzil Ks, Mohammed Arshad, Thomas Archana A, Paul Shann, Shahul M, Kasim K
Department of Public Health Dentistry, St. Gregorios Dental College, Chelad, Ernakulam, Kerala, India, e-mail:
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Kannur Dental College Anjarakandy, Kannur, Kerala, India.
J Contemp Dent Pract. 2017 Aug 1;18(8):695-699. doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-2109.
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.
本研究旨在评估印度喀拉拉邦科钦建筑工人的烟草使用情况及相关口腔黏膜病变的患病率。
在科钦的多个建筑工地进行了一项横断面研究，采用多阶段抽样方法选取了2163名工人，并对他们进行了访谈和检查。使用预先设计的问卷获取有关人口统计学细节、烟草使用形式、类型、频率、早期戒烟尝试以及戒烟意愿的信息。口腔健康状况记录在世界卫生组织1997年口腔健康评估表上，并在自然光下使用口镜和探针进行检查。使用社会科学统计软件包第17版（美国伊利诺伊州芝加哥）对收集到的数据进行分析。应用卡方检验。
在2163名工人中，1952名是烟草使用者，211名是非使用者。在使用者中，1021人使用无烟形式，372人使用吸烟形式，559人两者都用。癌前病变/状况在有烟草习惯的人群中更为常见，其中白斑（14.75%）最为常见，其次是口腔黏膜下纤维化201例（9.3%）、念珠菌病123例（5.7%）、溃疡131例（6.05%）、脓肿59例（2.73%）、吸烟者腭部病变58例（2.68%）、扁平苔藓21例（0.97%）和恶性肿瘤2例（0.1%）。
工人中滥用习惯和口腔癌前病变或状况相当普遍。通过工作场所筛查进行控制和早期诊断是口腔癌控制的主要支柱。
建筑工人在工作场所面临各种健康危害且缺乏保护。无法获得医疗服务使情况不尽人意。大多数人文化程度低且社会经济地位低，导致他们有吸烟、咀嚼烟草的习惯。因此，我们有责任找到他们并给予适当的口腔健康教育指导。
