Abstract
A retrospective study was conducted in 2008 on 681 in Eastern Morocco in order to estimate the incidence of cervical and breast cancer, and to determine the social determinants and risk factors associated with these two types of cancer. Another goal of the study was to give health decision makers evidence of the necessity for early diagnosis and treatment. A questionnaire was used before the clinical gynecological examination and sampling cell for the Pap smear. Any woman with a Pap smear suspect had to do a biopsy at the reference centre. Physicians, obstetricians and midwives in the consultation process did gynecological examination and breast palpation. Patients with a suspicious nodule underwent ultrasound and mammography by radiologists on site. Gynecological samples were carried out systematically to all ever-married women to detect cancer of the cervix. Software Excel and SPSS 17 were used for data processing. Patients with high social status were more susceptible to develop breast cancer whereas women with cervical cancer were poor, belonging to a class with a low marital status of widowed or divorced having been married at an early age. The majority of women were married (81%), poor (80%) and illiterate (66%). Breastfeeding women were less affected by breast cancer than women not breastfeeding. For cervical cancer, the difference was not statistically significant. Women using contraceptives were vulnerable to both breast and cervical cancer. For cervical cancer, over 15% of women with a family history were screened positive. No relationship was found between breast cancer and family history. Taking into account regional particularities, we stress the importance of social determinants and risk factors and show that our results are consistent with those published by other researchers. Breast and cervical cancers constitute a real challenge in Morocco. Their socioeconomic burden can be reduced by early detection and treatment. The delayed diagnosis complicates the task both in terms of survival and cost of treatment. Consequently, Moroccan health authorities are urged to adopt preventive and cost effective strategies.
Highlights
The Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide [1,2]
In order to get the best estimate of breast and cervical cancers in the Eastern region, a sample was formed with 681 women recruited randomly at the selected health centres
We found that the risk of breast cancer was clearly associated with a high socioeconomic level
Summary
The Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide [1,2]. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly eight million people die each year from cancer in the world. The incidence of cancer was multiplied by four in 10 years among women 35 - 45 years old. More than 1.05 million new cases of breast cancer occur each year, including over 580,000 in developed countries (Western Europe and North America) where it is more common than in Africa or Asia. This type of cancer is responsible for more than 400,000 deaths of women each year
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