BEHAVIOURAL HABITS AND ORAL CANCERS RISK AMONG THE YEMENI POPULATION: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY.

Azmawati MOHAMMED NAWI¹ , Hasanain FAISAL GHAZI², Najla MASHLOL³, Mohd Rohaizat HASSAN¹, Norfazilah AHMAD¹

¹Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

²Community Medicine Unit, International Medical School, Management and Science University, Selangor, Malaysia.

³ High Health Institution of Hodeidah, Yemen.

ABSTRACT

Aims: This study aimed to determine the association between behavioural habits and oral cancers risk among Yemeni population. Methods: A hospital-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 74 oral cancers cases and 74 controls. Cases and controls were recruited using convenient sampling method. The data collection was performed using a guided questionnaire consists of socio-demographic characteristics and behavioural habits. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the factors associated with oral cancers. Results: Older age and patients living in rural residence were significantly associated with oral cancers. Behavioural habits related to poor oral hygiene status [aOR=48.89 (95% CI: 5.45-408.26), P<0.001] had the highest odds for oral cancers, followed by shammah consumption [aOR=3.34 (95% CI: 1.43-7.83), P = 0.005] among the Yemenis. Conclusion: Oral hygiene status and shammah consumption were modifiable behavioural habits that could be the focus for future health education and awareness programme strategies, especially among the older patients living in the rural residential area.

Keywords:  Case-Control, Habits, Oral cancers, Oral hygiene, Tobacco usage.

Corresponding author: Azmawati Mohammed Nawi (M.Comm.Med), Dept. of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jln Yaacob Latiff, Bdr Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Email: azmawati@ppukm.ukm.edu.my

Brunei Int Med J. 2019;15:58-63