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Oral cancer risk factors among Mexican American Hispanic adolescents in South Texas.

PURPOSE
Tobacco use and alcohol consumption have been identified as the major risk factors for oral and pharyngeal cancers. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of adolescent high schoolers in South Texas regarding the risk factors and signs for oral cancer and to examine their prevalence of cigarette smoking, use of smokeless tobacco and alcohol consumption.


METHOD
The sample population was drawn from the public school system in Brownsville, Texas. A 39 item self administered questionnaire was completed by 1667 students in four of the five high schools. 95.6% of the students were of Mexican American Hispanic ethnicity.


RESULTS
Modeling with multivariate logistic regression revealed that among current cigarette smokers, regular alcohol use was the strongest associated risk [OR=15.7; 95% CI=10.9-22.5] followed by use of smokeless tobacco [OR=2.4; 95% CI=1.4 4.1]. There was a significantly greater (P<0.001) use of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and alcohol among the Mexican American males than females.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that the overall risk for oral cancer among the Mexican-American adolescent population is high especially among the males, and there is a great need for carefully planned health education and promotion programs for behavior change.