Worldwide, around 600 million individuals use betel quid (BQ).
As a result, future programs can be developed to include methods for navigating these social customs while also learning how to avoid these chewing habits, all without feeling excluded from their social circles.
The majority of its use, about three-quarters, is found in Pacific Island nations, as well as South Asian and Southeast Asian countries.
This practice often starts at a young age, around 13 years old, making teenagers a particularly vulnerable group for betel nut chewing.
It’s essential to investigate the motivations behind the use of these products in order to create strategies that could help discontinue the habit and reduce health issues associated with it.
Differences in reasons for chewing were evaluated between those who are dependent on chewing and those who are not.
People who tend to always have something in their mouth were significantly linked to dependence on betel nut.
In terms of social factors, findings showed that in three out of four cases, parents or family members had a habit of chewing, and perceptions about whether it is appropriate or inappropriate to chew betel nuts were linked to dependency.
Emphasizing the role of stimulating factors in upcoming interventions aimed at reducing betel nut use and addiction could be immensely beneficial.
Future initiatives could be tailored to include strategies for managing these societal expectations while still avoiding these chewing habits and maintaining social connections.