Oral cancer risk behaviours of Indian immigrants in Australia: a qualitative study

• Published in: Australian and New Zealand journal of public health Vol. 46; no. 1; pp. 87 - 94
• Main Authors: Saraswat, Nidhi, Prabhu, Neeta, Pillay, Rona, Everett, Bronwyn, George, Ajesh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Elsevier B.V 01-02-2022; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Elsevier Limited; Elsevier
• Subjects: Age; Areca catechu; Asian people; Attitudes; Behavior; Cancer; Community organizations; Community structure; Content analysis; Data collection; Demographic aspects; Emigrants and Immigrants; Health aspects; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health risks; Humans; Immigrants; Immigration; Indian immigrants; Indians; Industrialized nations; Interviews; Knowledge; Migration; Mouth cancer; Mouth Neoplasms; Nuts; Oral cancer; Oral diseases; Population; Public health; Qualitative research; Recruitment; Risk; Risk behavior; risk behaviours; Risk factors; Risk taking; Risk-taking (Psychology); Sampling; Tobacco; Victoria; Victoria; Australia; New Zealand; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; New South Wales Australia; India; South Asia; Oral cancer; Indian immigrants; risk behaviours
• ISSN: 1326-0200; 1753-6405
• DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.13183

Oral cancer is widespread in South Asia, particularly India. In Australia, Indians are one of the fastest‐growing communities. This study aimed to explore the oral cancer‐related knowledge, attitudes and practices of Indian immigrants in Australia.
Fourteen semi‐structured interviews were conducted with Indian immigrants residing across New South Wales and Victoria. Purposive and snowball sampling were used for recruitment. Data were analysed through a directed content analysis approach.
All participants were knowledgeable of oral cancer risks associated with tobacco and alcohol, but few were familiar with the harmful effects of areca nut preparations. Varied attitudes were evident with most participants acknowledging the importance of oral cancer check‐ups, yet very few followed this practice. All participants admitted engaging in oral cancer risk practices including areca nut use at least once or more in their lifetime.
Oral cancer risk practices are common among Indian immigrants in Australia who possess limited knowledge with varying attitudes in this area.
Preventative strategies are needed to limit the use of oral cancer risk products among Indian immigrants. General practitioners and community organisations can play a key role in raising awareness in this area.