Knowledge Regarding the Risk Factors of Oral Cancer among the Tobacco Chewers

Background: Tobacco is a leading preventable cause of deaths worldwide the situation is particularly serious in the developing countries. Tobacco use among the children and adolescents is already a pandemic and they are vulnerable targets of tobacco industry. This is also the scenario in India. Risk factors for oral cancer include tobacco and alcohol use, unprotected exposure to sun light, lack of dietary fruits and vegetables and use of marijuana. Objectives: 1. To assess the knowledge regarding the risk factors of oral cancer among the tobacco chewers. 2. To associate the knowledge regarding the risk factors of oral cancer among the tobacco chewers with demographic variables. Material and Method: Descriptive research design and non probability convenience sampling technique was used in this study. Two hundred tobacco chewers were selected for the data collection. Structured knowledge questionnaire was used to collect the data. Result: Thirty percentages of tobacco chewers had average knowledge, 28% had good knowledge and 42% had excellent knowledge. Demographic variable like the age, occupation, family income, in which form do you consume tobacco in, how many time in a day you chewing tobacco was significant to 0.05. Conclusion: Study concluded that maximum tobacco chewers had excellent knowledge regarding risks factors of oral cancer but knowingly or due to ignorance they consume tobacco in various forms. Hence there is need of health education among general population so this problem can be tide over.