Betel chewing among bus drivers in Jaffna district

Selvananthan, S; Sivaganesh, S.; Vairavanathan, S; Surenthirakumaran, Rajendra; Balakumar, S.

doi:10.4038/cmj.v63i2.8686

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Evidence indicates that CPST use is evolving as a silent sub‐culture specific to several social and occupational groups who perceive a beneficial effect of these substances to postpone sleep and keep awake during night shifts 18,42 . Similar reasons were expressed by betel quid chewing bus drivers in Jaffna, the main city in the Northern Province 35 . Same studies identified specific high risk, demographic and occupational groups with high prevalence of ST use, from five of 25 administrative districts in Sri Lanka 18,42 .…”

Section: Differences Between Districts In the Distribution Of Oral Ca...mentioning

confidence: 91%

“…For example, a study conducted among Jaffna bus drivers revealed that the overall prevalence of betel quid chewing was 70.4%. Of the current users, 61% had chewed betel quid for more than 5 years; 89.2% remained daily chewers 35 …”

Section: Differences Between Districts In the Distribution Of Oral Ca...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of the current users, 61% had chewed betel quid for more than 5 years; 89.2% remained daily chewers. 35 Figure 2B shows the association between district poverty and crude incidence rates of oral cancer for males and females per 100 000 population for the year 2019, by districts. Area based deprivation indicators are not available for Sri Lanka similar to high income countries.…”

Section: Ifferen Ce S B E T Ween D Is Tric Ts In the D Is Tributi On ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…18,42 Similar reasons were expressed by betel quid chewing bus drivers in Jaffna, the main city in the Northern Province. 35 Same studies identified specific high risk, demographic and occupational groups with high prevalence of ST use, from five of 25 administrative districts in Sri Lanka. 18,42 Furthermore, there were commonalities and differences in determinants of ST use among those occupational groups, including to keep awake, as an energizer to keep alert and to concentrate, to overcome boredom, peer pressure, for relaxation, to keep the mouth fresh from malodour and bad taste, to keep away from leaches, induce sleep, and to quit smoking.…”

Section: National Trends In Smokeless Tobacco Use Smoking and Alcohol...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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An overview of the burden of oral cancer in Sri Lanka and its inequalities in the face of contemporary economic and social malaise

Perera

Amarasinghe

Jayasinghe

et al. 2023

Comm Dent Oral Epid

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Objectives: Over the past several decades, oral cancer has been the most common malignancy among Sri Lankan males and the top 10 cancer among females, disproportionately affecting low socio-economic groups. Sri Lanka is a lower-middle-income developing country (LMIC), currently striking through an economic crisis, and social and political unrest. Occurring at an accessible body site and predominantly attributed to potentially modifiable health-related behaviours, oral cancer should be preventable and controllable. Unfortunately, broader contextual factors that are socio-cultural, environmental, economic, and political and mediated through social determinants of people's lives consistently hinder progress. Many LMICs with a high burden of oral cancer are now gripped by economic crises, consequent social and political unrest, all compounded by reduced public health investments. The aim of this review is to provide a critical commentary on key aspects of oral cancer epidemiology including inequalities, using Sri Lanka as a case study. Methods:The review synthesizes evidence from multiple data sources, such as published studies, web-based national cancer incidence data, national surveys on smokeless tobacco (ST) and areca nut use, smoking and alcohol consumption, poverty headcount ratios, economic growth, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) health expenditure. National trends in the oral cancer, ST use, smoking and alcohol consumption in Sri Lanka are identified alongside inequalities.Results: Using these evidence sources, we discuss 'where are we now?', together with the availability, accessibility and affordability of oral cancer treatment services, oral cancer prevention and control programmes, tobacco and alcohol control policies, and finally, outline macroeconomic perspectives of Sri Lanka.Conclusions: Finally, we speculate, 'where to next?' Our overarching goal of this review is to initiate a critical discourse on bridging the gaps and crossing the divides to tackle oral cancer inequalities in LMIC such as Sri Lanka.

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Section: Differences Between Districts In the Distribution Of Oral Ca...mentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Differences Between Districts In the Distribution Of Oral Ca...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ifferen Ce S B E T Ween D Is Tric Ts In the D Is Tributi On ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: National Trends In Smokeless Tobacco Use Smoking and Alcohol...mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

An overview of the burden of oral cancer in Sri Lanka and its inequalities in the face of contemporary economic and social malaise

Perera

Amarasinghe

Jayasinghe

et al. 2023

Comm Dent Oral Epid

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Similarly, Javed et al (2008 and in Pakistan reported that a significant percentage (8-24%) of adult chewers (between 45 and 64 Years) masticate gutkha to control hunger. According to a report from Sri Lanka, Selvananthan et al (2018) showed that ~53% rural populationmainly drivers and laborersuse AN to control hunger and tiredness. Low level of school education accompanied by alcohol drinking and tobacco use were identified as factors associated with BQ chewing (Lee et al 2011).…”

Section: Impact Of Occupation/socioeconomic Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carcinogenic Alkaloids Present in Areca Nut

Thakur

Mehrotra

2022

Handbook of Substance Misuse and Addictions

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Areca nut (AN) and tobacco are widely consumed across the world by ~600 million and 1.3 billion people due to their addictive properties, respectively. Globally, AN is the fourth most common psychoactive substance after caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. It is not only a psychostimulant and addictive substance, but also a potential carcinogen as per World Health Organization (WHO)-International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). There are four major alkaloids present in the areca nut, namely arecoline, arecaidine, guvacine, and guvacoline. Arecoline is the major alkaloid and comparable to the main tobacco alkaloid nicotine due to its analogous addictive effect on the human brain. Chemically, both the alkaloids are tertiary amines and are responsible for the addictive nature of the substance. However, unlike, areca alkaloid arecoline, primary tobacco alkaloid nicotine is not considered a carcinogen.Prolonged use of AN/tobacco and its products including pan masala, gutkha, and scented supari are responsible for various diseases including oral potentially malignant disorders, oral submucous fibrosis, oral cancer, hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, etc. Contrary to tobacco control measures, stringent policies are either lacking or not implemented properly against the production, trade and use of AN around the world, especially in the Southeast Asian region, where its use is the most prevalent. Considering the potentially carcinogenic nature of AN alkaloids, well-framed policies to curb the use of AN in favor of public health are urgently warranted.

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Carcinogenic Alkaloids Present in Areca Nut

Thakur

Mehrotra

2022

Handbook of Substance Misuse and Addictions

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Betel chewing among bus drivers in Jaffna district

Cited by 5 publications

References 4 publications

An overview of the burden of oral cancer in Sri Lanka and its inequalities in the face of contemporary economic and social malaise

An overview of the burden of oral cancer in Sri Lanka and its inequalities in the face of contemporary economic and social malaise

Carcinogenic Alkaloids Present in Areca Nut

Carcinogenic Alkaloids Present in Areca Nut

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