BEHAVIORAL-FACTORS EXPLAINING THE LOW-RISK FOR CERVICAL-CARCINOMA IN UTAH MORMON WOMEN

We used data from a population-based case-control study conducted in U tah from 1984 to 1987 to determine whether the low incidence of cervic al carcinoma in Mormon women can be explained by adherence to their re ligious teachings, which proscribe smoking and extramarital sexual rel ations. Mormon women had substantially lower risk for cervical carcino ma than non-Mormons [odds ratio (OR) = 0.39; 95% confidence interval ( CI) = 0.28-0.54]; this low risk was confined to those who attended chu rch frequently. The protective effect disappeared after controlling fo r differences in age, sexual behavior, and smoking (OR = 1.22; 95% CI = 0.80-1.87).