Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is an important health problem world-wide. Low socioeconomic status, no screening attendance, smoking, Oral Contraceptives (OCs) usage, multiparous, and sexual multi-partners are important risk factors.

Aim: To determine the sociodemographic and clinical risk factors of cervical cancer among Egyptian women.

Patients and methods: Eighty six adult females with cervical cancer and 200 adult healthy females were recruited as the cases and controls. A case-control study design was used in this research. A comprehensive interviewing form was used to collect data.

Results: Significant sociodemographic risk factors were low education, low occupation, and age ≥ 50 (OR=3.42, 4.79, 3.35; respectively). Also, significant sexual behavior risk factors were premarital sexual practice, practice with STDs symptomatic partner, none circumcised partner, and ≥ 3 life time sexual partners (OR=5.36, 3.1, 12.28, 26.25; respectively). Meanwhile, significant gynecological and reproductive risk factors were age at marriage <18, age at first full term labor <20, multiparity >5, vaginal delivery, and OCs usage (OR=2.63, 2.06, 2.19, 11.86, 4.93; respectively). Significant medical and family history risk factors were obesity, history of STDs, and positive family history of cervical cancer (OR=5.42, 4.44, 14.93; respectively). Significant life style risk factors were low fruits and vegetables intake, passive smoker, alcohol use, and poor genital hygiene (OR=7.04, 10.23, 4.34, 2.36; respectively).

Conclusions and recommendations: Risk factors of cervical cancer are mostly preventable. More studies should be conducted on big number of patients in different areas to understand the true epidemiology and situation of cervical cancer in Egypt and to doubling of efforts to address high-risk groups. Also, the need for a national prevention and control program, the integration of screen services into health facilities that women use.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; Risk factors; Sociodemographic; Clinical; Egypt