Risk factors for cancer of the cervix.

BACKGROUND: Cancer of the cervix is the second most common cancer among women worldwide and the leading cancer in Nigeria. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the risk factors associated with cancer of the cervix as seen in patients presenting to a tertiary hospital with gynaecologic conditions. STUDY DESIGN: The case control study design was used with a retrospective review of records of randomly selected cases of cancers of the cervix from the cancer registry and appropriate controls among hospital patients. RESULTS: Binary logistic regression carried out on the data revealed that contraceptive method (OR = 3.38, 95% CI = 1.75, 6.51) number of children (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.47), and age (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.10) were the significant risk factors out of all the potential risk factors that were assessed. CONCLUSION: These findings provide a useful insight into the general pattern of risk associated with cancer of the cervix in our environment.