Risk factors for breast cancer in Jordanian women

Purpose: To investigate risk factors associated with breast cancer in Jordanian women. Design: Retrospective case-control study based on data from the Jordanian Cancer Registry in 1996. Methods: One hundred women with breast cancer (cases) and 100 women without breast cancer (controls) were interviewed in their homes. A questionnaire was developed in Arabic to investigate the risk factors associated with breast cancer in Jordanian women. Findings: Bivariate analysis indicated significant differences between the cases and controls including age of menarche and menopause, use of households' pesticides, stressful life events, and direct trauma to the breast. Logistic regression analysis indicated higher odds ratios for breast enlargement, irregular menstruation, use of hair dye, oral contraceptives, and fertility drugs. Conclusions: Significant differences in correlates of breast cancer were found between the cases and the controls.