Parity and breastfeeding protect against breast cancer in Nigerian women
Author Information
Author(s): Huo D, Adebamowo C A, Ogundiran T O, Akang E E, Campbell O, Adenipekun A, Cummings S, Fackenthal J, Ademuyiwa F, Ahsan H, Olopade O I
Primary Institution: University of Chicago
Hypothesis
How do reproductive factors affect breast cancer risk in Nigerian women?
Conclusion
Reproductive factors such as later age at menarche, higher parity, and longer breastfeeding duration are associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in Nigerian women.
Supporting Evidence
- Women with menarche at or after age 17 years had a 40% lower risk of breast cancer compared to those with earlier menarche.
- Breast cancer risk decreased by 7% for every 12 months of breastfeeding.
- Parity was negatively associated with breast cancer risk.
Takeaway
Having babies and breastfeeding them for a long time can help lower the chances of getting breast cancer for women in Nigeria.
Methodology
The study used a case-control design with structured interviews to collect reproductive history from 819 breast cancer cases and 569 controls.
Potential Biases
Potential recall bias in self-reported reproductive history.
Limitations
Reproductive history was self-reported, which may introduce recall bias, and the study's findings may not be generalizable beyond the specific community sampled.
Participant Demographics
The majority of participants were Yoruba, with some Hausa and Ibo, aged 18 and above.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Confidence Interval
0.54–0.95
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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