Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{205979,
        author = {Malarkodi M and Ms.Dona Ms.Drisya Ms.Elamathi and Dr.S.Madhavi and Prof. Anuradha  Ms.Umamalini Ms.Priyadharshini},
        title = {Evaluating Oral Cancer Risk Factors in Adult Populations- Silent Threats in Rural Lives},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {1},
        pages = {8720-8723},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=205979},
        abstract = {This study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors associated with oral cancer among adults living in a rural community. The objectives included identifying the major risk factors, determining their prevalence among the adult population, examining the relationship between demographic variables and the level of oral cancer risk, and providing information, education, and communication (IEC) to improve community awareness. A descriptive research design was adopted for the study. A total of 200 participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The assessment focused on identifying oral cancer risk factors and lesions by analysing demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and dietary patterns, along with their association with oral cancer risk. The findings revealed that approximately 60–70% of participants were aged between 40 and 70 years, and more than half (50–60%) were male. About 60% had primary education, while nearly 20% were illiterate, particularly among older individuals. Regarding lifestyle habits, 40–45% of participants were smokers, 30–35% used smokeless tobacco, 20–25% chewed betel nut or areca nut, and 35–40% consumed alcohol. Based on risk assessment scores, around 65–70% of participants were categorized as having low risk, 20–25% had moderate risk, and approximately 20% had no risk. Notably, 98% of the population exhibited oral lesions. Among the 200 participants, 48 had pigmented lesions and 70 presented with white patches. The study highlights those middle-aged and older adults, particularly males, constitute the majority of the at-risk population. Lower levels of education may contribute to reduced awareness of oral health and risk behaviour. The high prevalence of tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and betel nut chewing indicates significant behavioural risk factors associated with oral diseases. Although a large proportion of participants fell into the low-risk category, the presence of a considerable number with moderate risk underscores the need for continued attention and intervention.},
        keywords = {Oral cancer, risk factors, rural community, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, areca nut.},
        month = {June},
        }