Somayyeh Azimi1, Zahra Ghorbani2, Erfan Ghasemi3, Marc Tennant1, Estie Kruger1. 1. International Research Collaborative, Oral Health and Equity, School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia. 2. Community Oral Health Department, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. 3. Department of Biostatistics, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Public awareness on oral cancer is thought to improve prevention and early diagnosis; however, the role of socioeconomic status in this awareness is not clear. AIMS: The aim was to investigate whether an association exists between socioeconomic status and oral cancer awareness in adults. METHODS: A multi-stage random sample of adults was investigated in Tehran in 2016-2017. The outcome was awareness of oral cancer and knowledge of risk factors and signs and symptoms using a self-administered questionnaire. The main exposures were self-reported socioeconomic status of 8 indicators of family assets and economic situation. Wealth index was created using principal component analysis, and participants were classified into 5 quintiles. Regression analysis was applied to test associations. RESULTS: Out of 1800 adults, 1312 completed questionnaires were returned (72.8% response rate). The mean age was 37.8 (standard deviation 9.0) years; about 60% were female. Statistical analysis revealed the higher the wealth index, the higher the score for oral cancer knowledge and awareness. Awareness and knowledge were significantly lower among participants in the poorest quintile: they had a knowledge score on oral cancer risk factors 1.58 points [95% confidence interval (CI): -2.19;-0.96] lower, and a knowledge score on oral cancer signs 1.34 points (95 CI: -1.98;-0.72) lower compared with the richest quintile. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic inequalities were observed in oral cancer awareness in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
BACKGROUND: Public awareness on oral cancer is thought to improve prevention and early diagnosis; however, the role of socioeconomic status in this awareness is not clear. AIMS: The aim was to investigate whether an association exists between socioeconomic status and oral cancer awareness in adults. METHODS: A multi-stage random sample of adults was investigated in Tehran in 2016-2017. The outcome was awareness of oral cancer and knowledge of risk factors and signs and symptoms using a self-administered questionnaire. The main exposures were self-reported socioeconomic status of 8 indicators of family assets and economic situation. Wealth index was created using principal component analysis, and participants were classified into 5 quintiles. Regression analysis was applied to test associations. RESULTS: Out of 1800 adults, 1312 completed questionnaires were returned (72.8% response rate). The mean age was 37.8 (standard deviation 9.0) years; about 60% were female. Statistical analysis revealed the higher the wealth index, the higher the score for oral cancer knowledge and awareness. Awareness and knowledge were significantly lower among participants in the poorest quintile: they had a knowledge score on oral cancer risk factors 1.58 points [95% confidence interval (CI): -2.19;-0.96] lower, and a knowledge score on oral cancer signs 1.34 points (95 CI: -1.98;-0.72) lower compared with the richest quintile. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic inequalities were observed in oral cancer awareness in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Authors: Eman Alshdaifat; Amer Sindiani; Zouhair Amarin; Nadine Absy; Noor AlOsta; Husam Aldean Abuhayyeh; Mustafa Alwani Journal: Ann Med Surg (Lond) Date: 2021-12-04
Authors: Nidhi Saraswat; Bronwyn Everett; Rona Pillay; Neeta Prabhu; Amy Villarosa; Ajesh George Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-07-14 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: David Muallah; Jan Matschke; Sophie Muallah; Anna Klimova; Lysann Michaela Kroschwald; Tom Alexander Schröder; Günter Lauer; Dominik Haim Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-07-22