%0 Journal Article
%T Awareness of Oral Cancer in a Northwestern Nigerian State: Assessing the Knowledge, Opinion, and Practice of Traditional Healers and Herbalists
%A Rafael A. Adebola
%A Babatunde O. Bamgbose
%A Joshua B. Adeoye
%A Taiwo G. Amole
%J Journal of Oral Oncology
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/263150
%X Background: Traditional healers/herbalists remain one of the most accessible and popular options of care to people suffering from cancers particularly at the community level in Nigeria. The majority of patients with oral cancer present at the terminal stage after exploring unorthodox care. This study assesses the awareness of oral cancer among traditional caregivers in Kano State, Northwestern (NW) Nigeria. Methods: Self-administered, structured questionnaires were administered to a cross section of 21 traditional caregivers. Results: Of the 21 traditional caregivers studied, the majority (66.7%) had never heard of oral cancer and only 7 (33.3%) were aware. The level of knowledge on oral cancer was assessed using a scoring system classifying respondents as having adequate (>50%) or inadequate (<50%) knowledge. There was a significant educational status gap as respondents with informal education had lesser knowledge than that of their counterparts who had formal education (61.9% versus 19.0%) (P = 0.012). Conclusions: It is important to have allied healthcare providers informed about oral cancer, as their knowledge and awareness of oral cancer and its risk factors, which were low in our study, are vital in prevention and early detection. Impact: This study provides an insight into oral cancer prevention using traditional herbalists who are popular caregivers for those seeking health-related solutions. 1. Introduction Oral cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) constitutes over ninety percent (90%) of malignancies affecting the oral and maxillofacial region [1]. The incidence is increasing, with most cases occurring in the fifth to seventh decades of life¡ªprobably because of long exposure to tobacco and alcohol, oftentimes with underlying poor nutrition, which is a prerequisite for malignant transformation [1, 2]. Patients generally present at a late stage when the prognosis is poor [2¨C4]. The population at risk of oral cancer includes those aged over 65 years, chronic alcohol and tobacco users, and black males [5]. In the United States, oral cancer represents less than thirty percent (30%) of all cancers but has one of the lowest five-year survival rates among major cancers, including breast, prostate, and colon cancers [6]. It is estimated that thirty thousand new cases are diagnosed yearly and about eight thousand will die of the disease [6]. Carcinoma of the oral cavity occurring in Africans is poorly documented [7], and most studies carried out are prevalence studies without statistics on survival rates [7¨C22]. Although oral cancer is considered rare in
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/joo/2013/263150/