Exploring Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Risk Factors Associated with Cancer Among Patients at National Cancer Control Foundation, Yemen; 2024

This study aimed to exploring lifestyle factors and socio-demographic factors as potential risk contributors for cancer among patients. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 234 cancer patients. Results: The age ranged from 16 to 84 years, with a mean age of 43.48 ± 7.4 years. Of the participants, 57.3% were female, 70.1% lived in urban areas, 41.5% were smokers, and 52.6% were illiterate. The four most common types of cancer identified were breast (17.5%), lymph nodes (9.8%), colon (9%), and stomach (6.8%). There was a significant association between cancer and socio-demographic factors, particularly education level and marital status. Cancer prevalence was higher among married individuals, with rates of 78.4% in males and 71% in females. Illiterate females (67.2%) and males with primary-level education (36%) exhibited higher cancer incidence. Additionally, there was a relationship between cancer and lifestyle factors, including qat chewing, smoking, and physical activity. Among qat chewers, cancer prevalence was higher in males (78%) compared to females (53.7%). Regarding smoking, cancer rates were 72.4% in females and 60% in males, although non-smoking males had a slightly higher cancer incidence than non-smoking females. For physical activity, cancer rates were significantly higher among both sexes who were inactive (p = 0.000). Conclusion: Cancer risk was strongly associated with education level, qat chewing, smoking, and lack of physical activity. Health education campaigns is recommended to raise awareness among the Yemeni population about cancer risk factors and further research to explore additional risk factors related to environmental, cultural, and lifestyle habits.