Advances in Human Biology (Jan 2018)

Evaluation of tobacco-associated oral lesions in the police personnel from greater Mumbai: A survey with review of literature

  • Akshay Chaturmohta,
  • Hemant R Umarji,
  • Sonali Kadam,
  • Abhishek S Nayyar,
  • Harsha Puri,
  • Humera Ayesha,
  • Swati S Paraye

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/AIHB.AIHB_36_17
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 2
pp. 112 – 116

Abstract

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Context: The police personnel resort to tobacco-associated habits often as a stress buster and consider that the nicotine rush will settle their nerves so that they can focus better on their work. Recently, some non-governmental organisations have taken a note of this and carried out health check-up camps for the police personnel in the city of Mumbai, but similar awareness for oral and dental health is still largely missing. Aim: The present study was carried out with the primary aim to determine the prevalence of tobacco-associated habits and oral lesions in the police personnel from Greater Mumbai. Materials and Methods: All the police personnel included in the study were subjected to a detailed case history elicitation and examination procedure after obtaining their informed written consent. Special stress was given in eliciting the history of tobacco-associated habits while care was taken to diagnose tobacco-associated oral lesions such as tobacco pouch keratosis, pre-leukoplakia, leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis and carcinomatous and other lesions. Statistical Analysis Used: The data so collected were tabulated and sent for statistical analysis and objective conclusions were drawn. Results: Use of tobacco with lime was found to be the most common habit present in the police personnel (34.0%) while the least common habit found was betel nut chewing (3.9%). In a sample size of 2388 police personnel included in the study, the overall prevalence of leukoplakia was found to be 11.12%, with homogeneous leukoplakia being the most common subtype encountered (96.24%) and the second most common subtype encountered being speckled leukoplakia accounting for 2.26% of the cases reported. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated tobacco-associated habits to be very common in the police personnel from Greater Mumbai which emphasised specific efforts to be made to reduce tobacco usage by police personnel on active duty.

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