A Comparison of Attitudes and Practices of Gutka Users and Non-users in Chitrakoot, India. A Pilot

Abstract

Gutka chewing involved almost half of the study population and proportionately more males than females. The habit was endemic within families. Many gutka chewers also smoked, chewed paan or drank alcohol, representing a high-risk behaviour for oral cancer. Proportionately more non-chewers were aware of the link with cancer. There are clear implications for health promotion in India. General dental practitioners in the UK should also be aware of the possibility that this habit is becoming more widely adopted in South Asian communities here, involving young children as well as adults. Research into gutka use is also required in the UK.