%0 Journal Article %T Predictors of Oral Tobacco Use Among Young Adult Patients Visiting Family Medicine Clinics in Karachi, Pakistan %J Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention %I West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter. %Z 1513-7368 %D 2011 %\ 01/01/2011 %V 12 %N 1 %P 43-47 %! Predictors of Oral Tobacco Use Among Young Adult Patients Visiting Family Medicine Clinics in Karachi, Pakistan %K oral tobacco %K Cancer Prevention %K young adults %K Pakistan %R %X Prevalence of cancers associated with the use of oral tobacco (OT) is rising very rapidly and prevention ofuse is the best option to tackle this scenario. This cross-sectional study estimated the proportion of OT use andpredictors associated with its initiation and determined the knowledge, attitude and practices of OT users. Atotal of 231 young adult patients (15-30 years age) were interviewed by medical students in family practice clinicsin Karachi, Pakistan. OT use was considered as usage of any of the following: betel quid (paan) with tobacco,betel nuts with tobacco (gutkha), and snuff (naswar). Overall, 49.8% (95% CI=43.3-56.2) subjects had used OTat least in one form. Multivariable analysis demonstrated independent association of OT users with secondaryeducation level (adjusted OR=3.6; 95% CI=1.6-8.1) and use of OT by a family member (OR=2.3; 95% CI=1.3-4.0). Among OT users, 37.4% started after being inspired by friends/peer pressure, 60% using for more than5 years, 53.2 % users reported getting physical/mental comfort from the use of OT while 31.6% tried to quitthis habit but failed. We suggest socially and culturally acceptable educational and behavioral interventions forcontrol of OT usage and hence to prevent its associated cancers. %U https://journal.waocp.org/article_25471_601299b30ffb792e1e4ff2f299796c82.pdf