Objectives: To determine the prevalence of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) in a population of rural workers in the northeast of Brazil and to investigate the association with sociodemographic, occupational, and health factors.
Methods: A total of 1385 workers answered a validated questionnaire and were examined by calibrated dentists. A descriptive analysis, chi-square homogeneity test, and binary logistic regression were performed.
Results: The prevalence of OPMDs was 29.6%. Actinic cheilitis was the most predominant (28.4%), followed by leukoplakia (2.3%) and erythroplakia (0.3%). Gender, type of skin, and time exposed to the sun explained the presence of OPMD (P < 0.0001). The study found increased prevalence, especially for males over the age of 60 years and being exposed to the sun for more than 45 years.
Conclusion: Rural workers showed high vulnerability to the presence of OPMDs, as estimated prevalence exhibited was high.
Keywords: cross-sectional study; occupational exposure; oral medicine; oral premalignancies; prevalence; rural population.
© 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.