More than one million new patients suffer from breast cancer annually in the world. In developed countries, breast cancer is the most common malignancy diagnosed among women, and in developing regions, it often ranks second to cervical cancer. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between incidence of breast cancer and reproductive factors in North-West of Iran. This retrospective analytical control-case study was conducted with 235 breast cancer patients and 235 women in the control group. Data collection tools included a set of questions with interviews and patient medical records. Data were analyzed using statistical tests: t-test, Chi-square, Fisher, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Significantly increased risks were associated between breast cancer and older age at first pregnancy, age at menopause and history of contraceptive use. A trend for decreasing risk were observed with increasing parity. Findings of this study showed no association between breast cancer and age at menarche. The study results suggested that physiological and reproductive factors may play important roles in the development breast cancer among Iranian women.
Background Male child preference is a phenomenon in decline in Asian women. However, it continues to exert hidden pressure on childbearing women in developing countries to dispose them to depression during pregnancy. Aims This study assessed the prevalence of antenatal depression and hypothesised that maternal perception of a family's male child preference was an independent risk factor for depression. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 780 pregnant women who attended routine antenatal appointments and were assessed using the Iranian version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The questionnaire investigated sociodemographic characteristics and some possible risk factors, including maternal perception of male child preference in the family. Analysis was done using c2 tests to assess the relationship between variables. Findings The prevalence of antenatal depression was 20.1%. Maternal perception of male child preference was common and was associated with antenatal depression. Husbands and their families were found to prefer to have a male child. Conclusions Consideration of the male child preference as an independent risk factor is important for health care providers to prevent depression.
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