Students should stop chewing

CHILDREN who chew betel nut score lower grades in school as it impairs the brain’s developments, an education specialist says.
PNG Partnership Fund secretariat Catherine Johnston said students who chew betel nut scored lower in literacy and numeracy.
She said a study showed that chemicals from the lime (kambang) used with betel nut damaged the brain resulting in slow development in children who chew.
“According to a global research, betel nut impairs and slows down the brain development of children who chew,” Johnston said.
“It slows down their thinking capacity as well.”
It is understood that children’s brains develop to the ages of 8 and 9.
Johnston said one of the studies they took to investigate the issue revealed that 25 per cent of children chewed betel nut – some more regularly than others.
Children say they have access to it through their parents and neighbours.
“Interestingly, girls would most likely to report that they chew betel nut,” she said.