Pakistani urban population demonstrates a poor knowledge about cancers: a pilot survey.

Background: This cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the perceptions and level of knowledge of a Pakistani urban population regarding presentations, risk factors, and screening of cancers.

Methods: From 4 tertiary care hospitals, 439 subjects were recruited through convenient sampling method and interviewed using a standard questionnaire.

Results: More than 90% of subjects demonstrated poor knowledge.

Socio-demographic correlates of betel, areca and smokeless tobacco use as a high risk behavior for head and neck cancers in a squatter settlement of Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Head and neck cancers are a major cancer burden in Pakistan. They share a common risk factor profile including regular consumption of products of betel, areca and tobacco. Use of paan, chaalia, gutka, niswar and tumbaku is acceptable in Pakistan and is considered a normal cultural practice.

Chewing of betel, areca and tobacco: perceptions and knowledge regarding their role in head and neck cancers in an urban squatter settlement in Pakistan.

The link of betel, areca and chewable tobacco with head and neck cancers is clearly established. Fifty eight percent of the global head and neck cancers occur in South and Southeast Asia, where chewing of betel, areca and tobacco are common. This study was carried out to establish the pattern of use of Paan, Chaalia, Gutka, Niswar, Tumbaku and Naas among population of squatter settlement of Karachi and to determine the perceptions and knowledge regarding their role in the etiology of head and neck cancers.