Betel quid chewing among adult male immigrants from the Indian subcontinent to Italy.
OBJECTIVE
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.


SUBJECTS AND METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
['Petti|S|S|http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9996-8860', 'Warnakulasuriya|S|S|']
D000328:Adult D001114:Areca D001459:Bangladesh D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice D057220:Health Literacy D049674:History, 21st Century D006801:Humans D007194:India D008297:Male D008409:Mastication D008875:Middle Aged D010154:Pakistan D012384:Rome D012907:Smoking D013188:Sri Lanka D019966:Substance-Related Disorders D064424:Tobacco Use D055815:Young Adult
betel quid oral cancer lifestyle migrant population