Indian J Public Health. 2025 Sep 20. doi: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_935_24. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Yemeni women. In this study, we aimed to determine the socioeconomic and lifestyle factors of breast cancer risk and survival among Yemeni women in Thamar.
OBJECTIVES: We assessed the association between socioeconomic status, lifestyle factors, and the risk of developing breast cancer; and compared disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival between urban and rural breast cancer patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective, case-control study using data from the Thamar cancer registry and household survey. Cases were women with histologically confirmed breast cancer diagnosed from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023, and frequency-matched controls included women without breast cancer. Risk determinants were determined using multivariate logistic regression models and survival outcomes were analyzed using Cox regression.
RESULTS: A total of 115 cases and 119 controls were included in the study. Significant breast cancer-associated factors were illiteracy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] =5.46, P < 0.001), wood fuel for cooking (aOR =15.8, P < 0.001), low monthly income below 200 USD (aOR =12.1, P < 0.001), and postmenopausal status (aOR =2.54, P = 0.035). The comparison of DFS between urban and rural residents showed no statistically significant difference.
CONCLUSIONS: The study identified illiteracy, wood fuel for cooking, postmenopausal status, and low monthly income as key associated factor for breast cancer among the cases and controls examined. No significant difference in DFS was observed between urban and rural residents.
PMID:40977414 | DOI:10.4103/ijph.ijph_935_24
