目標：近年來隨著種植檳榔的高獲利誘惑，嚼檳榔者大幅增加，危害健康。本研究的主要目的在探討台灣地區在校青少年的嚼檳榔盛行率，以及嚼檳榔與學校、家庭狀況、親人不良衛生習慣等的相關情形。方法：本研究以結構性問卷進行資料收集，以二階段隨機抽樣方法抽取研究樣本。第一階段依台灣地區國中、高中、高職、專校(五專的一至三年級)等學校類別，按學生人數比例，抽出51所國中、12所高中、27所高職、10所專科學校共100所學校，第二階段再於每校各年級隨機抽取一個班級，全班列入研究對象，共計12,703位學生，完成問卷數12,222份，完成率為96.2%。結 果：在校青少年的嚼檳榔盛行率為11.5%，男生19.1%，女生3.7%，年齡越大，盛行率越高。其中高職生最高15.5%，高中生最低6.7%。5.7%的受測者同時有嚼檳榔、抽菸，飲酒的行為。學校因素上的課業情形、出席情形、工作打工狀況、在校曾經被體罰過、參加幫派等，家庭因素中之單親家庭結構型態，以及父母、兄弟姊妹嚼檳榔，和玩電動、飆車等，都是與嚼檳榔有關的因素。結論：瞭解嚼檳榔的性別、年齡差異及其他相關因素，將可作為青少年的檳榔防治教育之參考。

Objectives: The purposes of this study were (1) to estimate the prevalence of betel nut chewing among adolescents in Taiwan, (2) to survey the possible related factors for betel nut chewing. Methods: Subjects were selected through a two-stage random sampling procedure. In the first stage, the strata were based on the type of school: middle school, high school vocational school and junior college (first 3 years only). A total of 100 schools were sampled. In the second stage, the strata were based on grade: one class each representing the first, second, and third grades were randomly selected from each type of school. Of the 12,703 eligible students, 12,222 participated (96.2%). Results: The prevalence of betel nut chewing was 11.5%, and it was much higher in male than in female students (19.1% vs. 3.7%). The prevalence was highest in vocational schools (15.5%), followed by junior colleges (12.7%), junior high schools (10.2%), and high schools (6.7%). Of the students, 5.7% had the habits of cigarette smoking , alcohol drinking, and betel nut chewing. Factors considered possibly related to betel-nut chewing included (1) school factors: academic performance, absenteeism, working part-time while as a student, corporal punishment at school, and gang membership; (2) family factors: family structure and cigarette, alcohol, and betel-nut use by parents, brothers, and sisters, and (3) other factors, such as playing video games and car motorcycle racing. Conclusions: An understanding of gender and age differences and o ther factors of betel nut chewing can provide guidelines for effective interventions.