Knowledge of Oral Cancer and Its Effect on Oral Healthcare Practices and Precancerous Habits in a Rural Community in Nigeria

Objectives: To assess knowledge of oral cancer, identify factors that influence knowledge level and determine if knowledge level influences oral healthcare practices and precancerous habits in a rural community in Nigeria.

Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among adult residents of Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria. Knowledge of oral cancer, oral healthcare practices, and precancerous habits of participants were assessed using a well structured interviewer-administered questionnaire.

Results: A total of 300 adults with mean age of 44.3+13.17 years participated in the study. 90.7% had low knowledge of general features of oral cancer, 61.7% had low knowledge of risk factors, 71.7% had low knowledge of treatment options and 75.3% had low overall knowledge of oral cancer. Binary logistic regression showed that older adults and males were more likely to have high knowledge of general features of oral cancer (OR=1.036; 95%CI=1.003-1.069 and OR=2.373; 95%CI=1.082-5.200 respectively). Regression analysis also showed that high education was significantly associated with high knowledge of general features (OR=3.547; 95% CI=1.791-7.027), risk factors (OR=2.255; 95% CI=1.557-3.266), treatment options (OR=2.353; 95% CI=1.562-3.545) and overall knowledge of oral cancer (OR=2.085; 95% CI=1.377-3.156). High overall knowledge of oral cancer was significantly associated with twice daily teeth-brushing (OR=1.144; 95% CI=1.078-1.215) and increased oral healthcare utilization (OR=1.186; 95% CI=1.099-1.279). No significant correlation was seen between knowledge of oral cancer and precancerous habits.

Conclusion: Majority of the population had low knowledge of oral cancer which was majorly influenced by low level of education and this resulted in poor oral healthcare practices.

1-sentence abstract summary: The low knowledge of oral cancer resulted in significantly poorer oral healthcare practices of the adult population in a rural community in Nigeria.