Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
King's College London and WHO collaborating Centre for Oral Cancer, London, UK.
Oral Dis. 2018 Mar;24(1-2):44-48. doi: 10.1111/odi.12768.
Betel quid chewing (BQC) is an important oral cancer risk factor widespread in the Indian subcontinent. This usage also is common among migrants from this region. As the number of immigrants from South-East Asia is dramatically increasing in Italy, this survey was aimed at investigating BQC prevalence among immigrants from the Indian subcontinent.
First-generation adult male immigrants coming from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, living in Rome, were consecutively selected. They were interviewed using a validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were performed, and factors associated to regular BQC were investigated through regression analysis.
A total of 211 subjects (mean age, 33.8 years) living in Rome for 11 years, on average, participated in the study. BQC prevalence was 37.9% with few differences between Pakistani, Sri Lankans, and Indians. Prevalence among Bangladeshi was 7.3%. 69% of the consumers chewed BQ at least twice daily, 90% chewed BQ with tobacco; 30.3% subjects were smokers and chewers. Chewing parents, smoking, health illiteracy were associated with BQC. Most chewers believed that BQ helps to relieve stress.
The number of oral cancers in Italy is expected to increase because of BQC dissemination. Therefore, specific awareness campaigns directed to residents of South-East Asian origin are needed.
嚼槟榔（BQC）是印度次大陆广泛存在的重要口腔癌危险因素。这种用法在来自该地区的移民中也很常见。随着来自东南亚的移民数量在意大利急剧增加，本调查旨在调查来自印度次大陆的移民中 BQC 的流行情况。
连续选择来自巴基斯坦、印度、斯里兰卡和孟加拉国的居住在罗马的第一代成年男性移民。他们使用经过验证的问卷进行访谈。进行描述性统计，并通过回归分析调查与定期 BQC 相关的因素。
共有 211 名（平均年龄 33.8 岁）平均在罗马生活了 11 年的受试者参加了这项研究。BQC 的患病率为 37.9%，巴基斯坦、斯里兰卡和印度之间的差异不大。孟加拉国人的患病率为 7.3%。69%的消费者每天至少嚼两次 BQ，90%的人嚼 BQ 时会吸烟；30.3%的人吸烟和咀嚼。咀嚼父母、吸烟、健康文盲与 BQC 有关。大多数咀嚼者认为 BQ 有助于缓解压力。
由于 BQC 的传播，预计意大利的口腔癌数量将会增加。因此，需要针对东南亚裔居民开展专门的宣传活动。
