BREAST-CANCER AND RISK-FACTORS IN AN AFRICAN POPULATION - A CASE-REFERENT STUDY

Numerous studies have investigated different aspects of breast cancer including the known risk factors in the Western world. In sub-Saharan Africa breast cancer in women despite being a public health problem ha s not received attention from national health providers. This case-ref erent study investigated the association between a number of risk fact ors and breast cancer in Tanzania. There was a strong evidence of brea st cancer risk increasing with parity chi(2)10.6; p=0.001. However lac tation did not show a significant protective effect against breast can cer(OR=0.6, p=0.5). Other factors investigated included age at menarch e, age at first sex, marital status, age at menopause and duration of menstruation. Statistical analysis revealed that these factors were no t significantly associated with breast cancer in these Tanzanian women . The influence of these results are discussed in terms of possible in tervention strategies.