Ahmed S, Rahman A, Hull S
Steels Lane Health Centre, London.
Br J Gen Pract. 1997 Jul;47(420):431-4.
Betel quid chewing, often combined with tobacco chewing, is a common habit in the Indian subcontinent. It is associated with the development of malignancy of the oral mucosa and foregut. Among Asian communities in the United Kingdom (UK), Bangladeshis are particularly likely to retain this habit.
To investigate the prevalence of betel quid chewing, smoking, and knowledge of health hazards associated with these habits among the Bangladeshi population in an east London general practice.
A bilingual postal questionnaire to all 306 adults (25 years and over) identified as being of Bangladeshi origin within one practice in east London.
The questionnaire response rate was 46%. The prevalence of betel quid chewing was over 80% with no sex difference. Men were more likely to smoke tobacco than women (men = 57%, women = 11%, X2 = 33.3, P < 0.001), but over half the women added tobacco to their quid for chewing. Whereas over 80% of both male and female respondents identified the health risk of smoking, only one third identified oral cancer as a risk. In all, 25% of respondents started chewing in the UK.
The low response rate is discussed. The findings indicate that the majority of Bangladeshi respondents are unaware of the health risks of a common social habit, although well informed about smoking risks. A government health warning should be introduced for betel quid sold in the UK.
嚼槟榔，通常与嚼烟草一起，是印度次大陆的一种常见习惯。它与口腔黏膜和前肠恶性肿瘤的发生有关。在英国的亚洲社区中，孟加拉裔尤其可能保留这种习惯。
调查伦敦东部一家全科诊所中孟加拉裔人群嚼槟榔、吸烟的 prevalence 以及对与这些习惯相关的健康危害的了解情况。
向伦敦东部一家诊所内确定为孟加拉裔的所有306名成年人（25岁及以上）发放双语邮政问卷。
问卷回复率为46%。嚼槟榔的 prevalence 超过80%，无性别差异。男性吸烟的可能性高于女性（男性 = 57%，女性 = 11%，X2 = 33.3，P < 0.001），但超过一半的女性会在槟榔中添加烟草咀嚼。虽然超过80%的男性和女性受访者都认识到吸烟的健康风险，但只有三分之一的人认为口腔癌是一种风险。总体而言，25%的受访者在英国开始嚼槟榔。
讨论了低回复率。研究结果表明，大多数孟加拉裔受访者虽然对吸烟风险了解充分，但并未意识到一种常见社会习惯的健康风险。应该对英国销售的槟榔引入政府健康警告。
