Potential Risk Factors of Breast Cancer among Women Attending Teaching Hospitals in Babylon Province

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and the leading cause of cancer deaths among Iraqi women. Objective: To determine the potential risk factors associated with breast cancer. Methodology: This was a hospital based case control study which was conducted at Merjan and Al-Hilla teaching hospitals. A sample of three hundred women participants who were selected and divided into 100 patients with established breast cancer (cases) and 200 healthy women without breast cancer who were considered as healthy control group. Data were collected by interviewing both groups using a structured questionnaire which includes information about(tobacco smoking, economic status, age of menarche ,age of menopause , use of contraceptives level of education ,family history of breast cancer). medical records of patients and control group were reviewed to complete the data needed ,chi square statistical test and Odds Ratios were calculated. Results: Results of this study showed that the following factors like low economic status, ,late age of menopause ,positive family history, use of contraceptives were significantly associated with breast cancer(Unadjusted Odds Ratios more than one ,p values <0.05).Exposure to cigarette tobacco smoking, levels of education, and age of menarche did not show significant association with breast cancer in this study. Conclusion: Breast cancer was associated positively with the presence of positive family history, Low socioeconomic status, late menopause and using contraceptive pills regularly.