Abstract

The tobacco use is one of the biggest public health threat worldwide. More than 11 million deaths are due to use of direct or indirect use of smokeless tobacco. As smokeless tobacco is strongly associated with oral cancers. Globally among all cancers oral cancer is one of the most common cancers with prevalence being high central and south East Asian Countries. So, for present study the aim is to find out the Prevalence of Tobacco Use, Nicotine Dependence and associated Oral Premalignant Lesion in Rural Area of Nanded district. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was carried out among 400 individuals aged ≥18 years. A predesigned, pretested questionnaire was administered to collect socio-demographic characteristics, reasons of use of Tobacco, Stages of oral premalignant lesion etc. Result: In present study the prevalence of use of tobacco in rural population was 54.2%. 14.7% of respondents were having nicotine dependence. Majority of 68.0% of respondents were started smokeless &smoking form of tobacco consumption at age group 11-20 years. In tobacco consumption respondents, Majority (52%) found to have oral Erythroplakia followed by 12.9% had oral leukoplakia and 6.9% had oral sub mucous fibrosis. 3.7% and 6.4% had ulcers and any growth respectively. Conclusion: The habit of tobacco chewing and smoking showed a statistically significant association to with stages oral premalignant lesion. Close follow up and systematic evaluation is required. There is an urgent need for awareness programs of deaddiction in rural areas involving the health workers, allied medical professionals and NGOs.

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