Community-based early detection of oral precancerous lesion, accessibility and utilization of oral healthcare services among Irular tribes residing at union territory of Pondicherry

ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of oral carcinoma and precancerous lesion, oral healthcare seeking behaviour and identify accessible areas of tobacco cessation centres and oral healthcare facilities among Irular adult tribes residing in Pondicherry. 1. To estimate the prevalence of oral carcinomas and precancerous lesion by using toluidine blue solution. 2. To determine their oral healthcare seeking behaviour in terms of utilizing oral healthcare facilities. 3. To identify accessible tobacco cessation centres and oral healthcare centres for prevention of oral cancer. A cross-sectional study is designed to identify oral carcinomas, oral health-care seeking behaviour among Irular tribes of Pondicherry. 1% toluidine blue solution prepared for detection of oral precancerous lesion. Data was collected using a questionnaire and clinical examination. The collected data was subjected to statistical analysis. Out of 587 study population, oral mucosal lesion among the study population was 46 (7.8%) leukoplakia and 18 (3.1%) candidiasis. Positive health seeking behaviour 24 (41.7%) was observed. The study concluded that low prevalence of oral precancerous lesion and oral healthcare seeking behaviour is poor.