Smokeless tobacco use and related oral mucosal changes in Bengali Women

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use is called the single most cause of preventable cause of death all over the world. The various study confirmed that smokeless tobacco use is directly related to oral cancer and pre-cancer. The prevalence of smokeless tobacco use varies widely in different countries and states based on age group, gender, with varied socioeconomic, cultural and educational backgrounds. CONTEXT: Bengali female population. AIM: Explore the pattern of smokeless tobacco use and oral mucosal changes caused by it. METHODS: 155 women aged 15 years and above were selected. Face-to-face interview was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Data were summarized and statistically, analysis was done. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi-square test and univariate logistic regression done. RESULTS: The prevalence of current smokeless tobacco use was found to be 18.7%. On univariate logistic regression, it was found that there was a significant association between smokeless tobacco use and less educated females, odds ratio 0.4209 (0.1855–0.9550) family income less than 10,000, odds ratio 3.9773 (1.3047–12.1242), and oral changes odds ratio 0.2693 (0.1027–0.7061). CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers, as well as social workers, should give all efforts to bring the women from behind the curtain and educate them about the hazards of smokeless tobacco use.