RISK-FACTORS FOR CERVICAL-CANCER IN WOMEN FROM ZACATECAS, MEXICO

Objective. To determine the sociodemographic characteristics and the r eproductive and sexual behavior of participants in the Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control Program and to identify the risk factors for t his neoplasm. Material and methods, A case control study was performed among participants in the Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control Prog ram in the state of Zacatecas. The cases consisted of all patients dia gnosed and corroborated by histopathology with CIN III and invasive ca rcinoma of the uterine cervix (251) who were referred to the Dysplasia Clinic (within the same program),during 1993-1995. Controls were wome n randomly selected from the population which participates in this pro gram, who had negative cervical cytology. One control was selected for each case and paired by age and date, simultaneous to the cervical cy tology. Results. Risk of cervical cancer was higher in women with grea ter number of pregnancies (more than 12 pregnancies) than in women wit h less than 3 (OR 5.2, CI 95% 2.6-10.5). This is also true of women wi th greater number of births (12 or more) who have a risk five times hi gher than women with less than 3. Beginning sexual activity at an earl y age was associated to the risk of cervical cancer; women who began t heir sexual activity after the age of 19 had a risk two times lower th an those who started before the age of 15. The use of oral contracepti ves increased the risk of cervical cancer in relation to the use of no n-hormonal contraceptives (OR 1.9, CI 95% 1.3-3.4). Conclusions, In th e present study, the risk factors for cervical cancer in the populatio n participating in the prevention and control program were higher in w omen with high parity, who began sexual activity at an early age and/o r who consumed oral contraceptives.