Factors associated with breast cancer in an Argentine city

Abstract

In Argentina, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the first leading cause of cancer deaths; this information is mainly based on estimations since only recently, Argentina has organized a National Registry of Tumors. Argentine studies addressing socioeconomic factors and their possible effect on breast cancer prevalence are scarce, and there is not any systematic action to prevent and control breast cancer as well. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship among socioeconomic factors, breast cancer risk factors, women's adherence to mammography screening, and breast cancer prevalence in La Plata, the capital city of Buenos Aires Province (Argentina), an administrative and University city. We performed a cross‐sectional study of women with low socioeconomic power (low group, LG) and a middle group (MG) from October 2012 to December 2012; 739 women between 45 and 79 years old were personally interviewed, being 360 (MG) and 379 (LG). A structured questionnaire previously validated was employed. Variables included were as follows: socioeconomic group, breast cancer risk and socioeconomic factors, mammographic screening parameters, ever diagnosed breast cancer, Physician Enrollment, and Health System which consists of three sectors: Public (free), Private, and Social/Union Security.