A SURVEY OF BETEL NUT CHEWING IN PALAU

This note reports the results of a 1995 survey of betel nut chewing pr actices among indigenous residents of the Republic of Palau. Of those surveyed in a nonprobability sample of 1,110 individuals, 76 percent r egularly chewed betel nut, and of these, 83 percent regularly added a tobacco product to the chew. Betel nut users did not differ significan tly from nonusers with respect to religion and years lived outside of Palau; however, a significantly higher proportion of females used both betel nut and betel nut-associated tobacco products. The rate (freque ncy) of chewing significantly increased with age and education levels and was significantly higher among males, those who included tobacco p roducts, and those who indicated a religious affiliation other than Ro man Catholic, Lutheran Protestant, Seventh Day Adventist, or Modekngei . The estimated annual market value of betel nut and associated ingred ients consumed in Palau exceeds $9.2 million.