Prevalence and Risk Factors of Oral Cancer and Precancerous Lesions Among the Indigenous Nicobarese Tribe of Remote Car Nicobar Island, India: A Community Based Study

Abstract

Background: Tobacco usage and consumption of alcoholic beverages are reported to be high among the Nicobarese tribe. The main objective of this study was to assess the status of oral cancer and precancerous lesions among this tribe. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for screening Nicobarese tribal population by documenting the details of the potential risk factors in a predesigned proforma and clinically examining them according to WHO guidelines. A total of 2600 individuals from 10 study villages by including 260 individuals from each village were screened in the study. Informed consent was collected from each participant. Results: The prevalence of oral precancerous lesions including oral cancer was found to be 9.92% whereas oral cancer alone was 0.19%. Tobacco use by smoking cigarettes, using smokeless tobacco in form of sukka alone or with an adjunct to other forms of smokeless tobacco were significantly associated with oral cancer and precancerous lesions. These oral lesions were predominant in the age group of 26- 45 years and male. Conclusions: There is no available data on the prevalence of oral cancer and precancerous lesions among the indigenous Nicobarese tribe of remote Car Nicobar Island. Our study reports a high prevalence of oral precancerous lesions among this tribe. Although the prevalence of oral cancer is low the use of smokeless tobacco is much higher than the national prevalence. Hence early screening for oral lesions and creating awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco is necessary among this tribe.