Prevalence and Factors Associated with Oral Cancer Screening among Tobacco Users in India: Findings from the National Family Health Survey-5.

Background: In India, oral cancer ranks as the third most common cancer in men and the fourth in women, largely due to the prevalent use of tobacco. Data on oral cancer screening among tobacco users in India are limited.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of oral cancer screening among tobacco users and to identify factors associated with it.

Materials and methods: This study analyzed data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), using stratified multistage clustering sampling to ensure national representativeness. The data analysis included estimating weighted proportions to account for the cluster sample design.

Results: The NFHS-5 data include information on oral cavity examinations for oral cancer for 97,000 men and 707,119 women. Among these individuals, 41,669 (40.59%) men and 45,568 (6.44%) women were identified as tobacco users. Among tobacco users, screening rates were low, at 1.07% for men and 0.53% for women, with even lower rates among those using smokeless tobacco. Significant differences in screening rates were observed across different tobacco products and demographic groups. Factors such as gender, age, socioeconomic status, education level, and recent healthcare visits significantly influenced screening rates. Screening rates were highest among individuals in Andhra Pradesh, with 6.28% for men and 5.38% for women, showing significant differences in screening outcomes based on attempts to quit tobacco use and visits to healthcare providers.

Conclusion: The study finds low oral cancer screening rates among tobacco users. Efforts should prioritize overcoming barriers to screening and customizing interventions to enhance screening rates in India.