Open AccessCancers in Australia in 2010 attributable to total breastfeeding durations of 12 months or less by parous women
Author(s) -
Jordan Susan J.,
Wilson Louise F.,
Nagle Christina M.,
Green Adele C.,
Olsen Catherine M.,
Bain Christopher J.,
Pandeya Nirmala,
Whiteman David C.,
Webb Penelope M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/1753-6405.12457
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , medicine , attributable risk , incidence (geometry) , breast cancer , demography , relative risk , population , breast feeding , breast milk , obstetrics , gynecology , cancer , environmental health , pediatrics , confidence interval , biochemistry , chemistry , physics , sociology , optics
Objectives: To estimate the proportion and number of cancers occurring in Australia in 2010 attributable to parous women having breastfed for total durations of ≤12 months. Methods: We estimated the population attributable fraction (PAF) of breast cancers (the only cancer site with convincing evidence of causal association) associated with women breastfeeding for ≤12 months in total, using standard formulae incorporating breastfeeding prevalence data, relative risks associated with breastfeeding and cancer incidence. We also estimated the proportion change in disease incidence (potential impact fraction [PIF]) that might have occurred under two hypothetical scenarios of women breastfeeding for longer durations. Results: An estimated 235 (1.7%) breast cancer cases that occurred in Australian in 2010 could be attributed to women breastfeeding for total durations of ≤12 months. Assuming a hypothetical increase in breastfeeding, we estimated that the number of breast cancers prevented would range from 36 to 51 (prevented fraction = 0.3% to 0.4%). Conclusions: More than 200 breast cancers were attributable to women breastfeeding for total durations of ≤12 months. Implications: Policies to increase breastfeeding duration may help prevent breast cancers in the future.