Risk factors for breast cancer among women attending the University Hospitals in South and Central Ethiopia, a case – control study.
| dc.contributor.advisor | Getachew,Sefonias(MPH, PhD) | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Kifle,Awigchew(MSc, PhD candidate) | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Munir(MD, Oncologist) | |
| dc.contributor.author | Gezahagn,Amanuel | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-06-22T15:57:10Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-06-22T15:57:10Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-06 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Background: In Ethiopia, breast cancer incidence is rising and has become the foremost common cancer, causing high rates of morbidity and mortality. Because of the inconsistency in findings between studies conducted in Ethiopia, and no previous study has been conducted in the study area about the risk factors for breast cancer. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for breast cancer among women attending the University Hospitals in South and Central Ethiopia regions. Methods: An institutional-based matched case-control study was conducted among 378(189 women with BC and 189 women without BC) women attending selected university hospitals in the South and Central Ethiopia regions. Data was collected by interviewer-administered questionnaire and document review. Four University Hospitals were selected purposely based on the service they give specially chemotherapy service. Because of rare cases, cases were selected consecutively, while control was selected purposely from women visiting the selected hospitals for non-breast cancer cases based on the age of the case. A conditional logistic regression model was fitted to identify risk factors for breast cancer. The degrees of association between breast cancer and independent variables were assessed using an odds ratio (OR) at 95% CI. Result. A total of 378 women participated in this study for a response rate of 100%. The mean (SD) age of case and controls were 41.7(±11.13) and 41.5(±10.8) years. Above half of women 55.5% was diagnosed at late stage and 42% had breast cancer diagnosed with distant metastasis. According to conditional logistic regression model, unemployment (AOR 3.26(1.1-11.68), age at menarche (AOR 6.4(1.94-21.2)), parity (AOR 0.33(0.07-0.9)), intensity of physical activity (AOR 4.16(1.32-13.2)), consumption of solid oil (AOR 2.9(1.11-8.66)) and intake of packed food (AOR 3.48(1.12-10.9)) was significantly associated with breast cancer. Conclusions. This study found important risk factors for breast cancer. Therefore, there should be strong prevention work including awareness creation at the population level so that women will adopt healthier lifestyles through healthy nutrition and regular physical exercise, which might contribute to reducing the risk of developing BC. In addition, improving the early detection, and screening of breast cancer cases starting from the primary care settings for early identification and referral of breast cancer. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/8466 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa University | |
| dc.subject | Ethiopia | |
| dc.subject | Breast cancer | |
| dc.title | Risk factors for breast cancer among women attending the University Hospitals in South and Central Ethiopia, a case – control study. | |
| dc.type | Thesis |