Acta Biomedica Scientia

PREVALENCE OF TOBACCO ASSOCIATED HABITS AMONG MIGRANT CONSTRUCTION SITE WORKERS IN CHENNAI

Sathish Muthukumar Ramalingam, Sriram Kaliamoorthy*, Aesha Imran, Nachiammai Nachiappan, Sandhya Arunkumar

ksrirammds@gmail.com

Tobacco habits, Smoking, Smokeless tobacco.

To study the prevalence of tobacco associated habits among migrant construction site workers in Chennai. This is a descriptive study and the study population includes migrant construction site workers in Chennai. Each study participants demographic details and tobacco related habit history, and frequency of use were recorded. Total of 702 subjects, of which 642 were men and 60 were women examined in the age group ranging from 17 to 60. In total of 702 subjects, the individuals in the age group of 19-24 years, 25-34 years and 35-44 years constitutes 30.6% , 27.5% and 27.6 % respectively in the this study. Males were more common, 642 out of 702 with 91.5 % comprised the predominant gender group in this study. 38.8% of the individuals (272 out of 702) reported with habit of chewing tobacco, 5.3 % of the individuals (37 out of 702) reported with habit of only smoking and 12.5 % of the individuals (88 out of 702) reported with habit of both smoking and chewing tobacco.43.4% (305 out of 702) of the individuals reported with no history of any tobacco related habits. More than 50 % of the population were found to be with any of the tobacco related habits among the migrant construction site workers in this study. Smokeless tobacco usage being a strong risk factor for precancerous and cancerous lesions of oral cavity and since the use of tobacco , especially smokeless tobacco is high in the north Indian construction site workers, it is expected that the prevalence of tobacco associated precancerous lesion may be more in these study population. Hence this group should be potential target for periodic screening that will help in early diagnosis of potentially malignant disorders of oral mucosa that might lead to appropriate intervention which will reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with oral cancer. Also periodic oral health education program regarding cessation of tobacco habits to create awareness should be conducted for this largely uneducated, neglected population.