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Social and behavioural determinants of areca nut consumption in adolescents
Author(s) -
Huang Boyen,
Zachar Jessica Joanna
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
oral diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.953
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1601-0825
pISSN - 1354-523X
DOI - 10.1111/odi.13467
Subject(s) - areca , nut , medicine , demography , logistic regression , habit , neurocognitive , population , multivariate analysis , environmental health , gerontology , psychology , cognition , psychiatry , structural engineering , sociology , engineering , psychotherapist
Objective This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of areca nut consumption and to identify social and behavioural determinants among a Taiwanese adolescent population. Subjects and Methods A random sample of 5,343 high school students aged between 15–18 years in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, participated in the study. Participants underwent a clinical dental examination and completed a self‐administered questionnaire. Data analyses were performed using multivariate logistic regression to establish a relationship between areca nut consumption as well as social and behavioural characteristics. Results The prevalence of areca nut consumption was 3.0%. The chewing habit was more prevalent among older adolescents ( p < .001, OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.26, 1.78), males ( p < .001, OR = 17.91, 95% CI: 8.57, 37.40), pupils living with non‐birth parent(s) ( p = .003, OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.29, 3.50), children of family heads with primary ( p = .001, OR = 2.90, 95% CI: 1.50, 5.59) or secondary level of education ( p < .001, OR = 2.78, 95% CI: 1.74, 4.46), frequent risk takers ( p < .001, OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.27, 1.43) and students of low physical fitness ( p < .001, OR = 3.65, 95% CI: 1.81, 7.35). Conclusions Areca nut consumption has become an ongoing pertinent issue in adolescent health. Future investigations into neurocognitive influences of risk‐taking behaviour on areca nut consumption and social dependence of the habit are indicated.