Yvette C Paulino1, Rachel Novotny2, Mary Jane Miller3, Suzanne P Murphy4. 1. University of Guam, College of Natural & Applied Sciences. 2. University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. 3. University of Guam, School of Education. 4. Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, Epidemiology Department.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the areca nut/betel quid chewing practices of Micronesian chewers living in Guam. DESIGN: Two studies were conducted using qualitative data from focus groups and quantitative cross-sectional data from the 2007 Guam Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Ten focus groups included 49 men and women aged 18-60 years living in Guam in 2007. Participants were areca nut/betel quid chewers selected to reflect Guam's age and ethnic group (Chamorro, Chuukese, Palauan, and Yapese) distributions. Salient themes were extracted from transcripts of the sessions by three expert reviewers. A second method, latent class analysis, was used to identify unique groups of chewers. The groups were then compared on demographics and chewing-related behaviors. RESULTS: Areca nut and betel quid recipes collected from the focus groups showed that Chamorros had a preference for the ripe nut and swallowed the nut, whereas, the Chuukese, Palauan, and Yapese groups preferred the unripe nut and did not swallow it. Similarly, latent class analysis resulted in the identification of two groups of areca nut/betel quid chewers. Group 1 was all Chamorros. Compared to Group 2, the chewers in Group 1 preferred red and ripe nuts, did not add slake lime (calcium hydroxide) or tobacco, and swallowed the masticated areca nut (with or without Piper betle leaf). CONCLUSION: The quantitative analysis confirmed the qualitative exploration of areca nut/betel quid chewers in Guam, thus providing evidence that chewing practices vary among Micronesian populations. IMPLICATION: If future research should include an intervention, the differences in chewing practices among Micronesian populations should be taken into consideration to ensure programmatic success.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the areca nut/betel quid chewing practices of Micronesian chewers living in Guam. DESIGN: Two studies were conducted using qualitative data from focus groups and quantitative cross-sectional data from the 2007 Guam Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Ten focus groups included 49 men and women aged 18-60 years living in Guam in 2007. Participants were areca nut/betel quid chewers selected to reflect Guam's age and ethnic group (Chamorro, Chuukese, Palauan, and Yapese) distributions. Salient themes were extracted from transcripts of the sessions by three expert reviewers. A second method, latent class analysis, was used to identify unique groups of chewers. The groups were then compared on demographics and chewing-related behaviors. RESULTS:Areca nut and betel quid recipes collected from the focus groups showed that Chamorros had a preference for the ripe nut and swallowed the nut, whereas, the Chuukese, Palauan, and Yapese groups preferred the unripe nut and did not swallow it. Similarly, latent class analysis resulted in the identification of two groups of areca nut/betel quid chewers. Group 1 was all Chamorros. Compared to Group 2, the chewers in Group 1 preferred red and ripe nuts, did not add slake lime (calcium hydroxide) or tobacco, and swallowed the masticated areca nut (with or without Piper betle leaf). CONCLUSION: The quantitative analysis confirmed the qualitative exploration of areca nut/betel quid chewers in Guam, thus providing evidence that chewing practices vary among Micronesian populations. IMPLICATION: If future research should include an intervention, the differences in chewing practices among Micronesian populations should be taken into consideration to ensure programmatic success.
Authors: Ajay M Narayanan; Ahana Yogesh; Mary P Chang; Andrey Finegersh; Ryan K Orosco; William J Moss Journal: Hawaii J Health Soc Welf Date: 2020-04-01
Authors: Yvette C Paulino; Reynolette Ettienne; Rachel Novotny; Lynne R Wilkens; Moria Shomour; Cecilia Sigrah; Shelley D Remengesau; Emihner L Johnson; Julia M Alfred; Daisy F Gilmatam Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Date: 2017-10 Impact factor: 2.984
Authors: Yvette C Paulino; Eric L Hurwitz; Joanne C Ogo; Tristan C Paulino; Ashley B Yamanaka; Rachel Novotny; Lynne R Wilkens; Mary Jane Miller; Neal A Palafox Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Date: 2017-10 Impact factor: 2.984