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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Masood Ali Shaikh, MD, MPH1, Greg Pappas, MD, PhD2, and Irshad A. Shaikh, MD, MPH, PhD1. (1) Health Dept., City of Chester, 5th & Welsh Streets, Municipal Building, Chester, PA 19013, (610) 447-7824, masoodshaikh1@yahoo.com, (2) Demographic and Health Surveys (Measure DHS +), MACRO International Inc., 11785 Beltsville Drive, Calverton, MD 20705
Pan (a mixture of areca nut, lime, and catechu on betel leaf, with or without tobacco) is carcinogenic even when used without tobacco. This study estimates the prevalence of pan use. And examines its relationship using logistic regression with gender, age, economic status and residential status in terms of urban/rural, using the data from the National health Survey of Pakistan (NHSP) 1990-94. A two-stage stratified sample design was adopted for NHSP. The survey population comprised of 10568 individuals aged 15 and above. STATA-7 was used to conduct a design-based analysis. Individuals who reported currently using pan were defined as users of pan. The overall prevalence of pan use was 2.5% and 95% confidence interval (CI) was 1.1 – 3.8. In men it was 3.1% (95% CI 1.6 – 4.5), while in women it was 2% (95% CI 0.5 – 3.4). Rural residency status bestowed protection from Pan use odds ratio (OR) 0.9 (95% CI 0.03 – 0.25). Pan use was significantly associated with age: using age group 15 – 24 as the reference, OR was 1.8 (95% CI 1.2 – 2.8) in the age group 25 – 44 years. While no significant association was present with the age groups 45 – 64 and 65+. Economic status and gender also did not show any significant association. Pan use is predominantly a behavior affecting urban residents in the age group of 25 - 44 years. Health education efforts need to be targeted towards this segment of population in Pakistan, so as to lessen the associated burden of disease.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.