Oral Cancer Awareness Among Dental Students and Interns at Khatam Al Nabieen University, Kabul, Afghanistan.

BACKGROUND

Oral cancers, the eighth most common globally and sixth in Afghanistan, pose a major public health challenge due to limited healthcare access. Awareness is vital for prevention, control, and early detection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted among university students in Kabul, Afghanistan, from April to November 2022. A revalidated questionnaire containing 14 closed-ended questions was translated into Dari by a specialist and distributed in person to students and dental interns, with an average completion time of approximately 10 min. The collected data were then analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25.

RESULTS

The study included 178 males (39.3%) and 275 females (60.7%). About 74.6% identified smoking and tobacco chewing as causes of oral cancer, and 74.9% knew it is not transmitted through physical contact or speaking. Additionally, 60.9% believed oral cancer is curable. Males had a higher mean knowledge score (62.7%) compared to females (58.4%). More females had heard of oral cancer, but there were no significant gender differences in knowledge about causes, transmission, or the impact of AIDS on oral cancer.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed insufficient knowledge about oral cancer among participants. While males exhibited slightly better understanding than females, the difference was not significant.