[Risk factors of cancer in children under 14 years old]

Recognition of the risk factors of childhood cancer has been important. However, there is little identification about these risk factors. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors of cancer in children under14 years old. The present study has been a case-control study of 14-year-old children. 98 childhood cancer cases and 100 controls were matched on age and sex. Data were collected using a questionnaire with some of the known and suspected risk factors of cancer via the parent, and were analyzed with two independent samples t-tests, chi-square and logistic regression models. In this study, low- educational status in mothers and fathers increased risk of childhood cancer [p<0.05]. Children lived in low-income families [500000-1500000 Rails per month], and had a significantly higher risk of cancer [Odds ratios=3.08; 95% CI=4-6.00]. Fathers smoking during pregnancy [odds ratio=3.00] and living near high voltage power lines [Odds ratios=1.5] were significantly related to an increased risk of cancer in children. In addition, there was a higher risk of cancer particularly among heavy [>/= 11 cigarettes per days] smokers [odds ratio= 2.7]. The results of this study indicated that some risk factors such as living conditions, smoking fathers during pregnancy, parental educational level and financial status were associated with the risk of childhood cancer. Therefore, public health should aim at improving environmental and familial socioeconomic status for all children; efforts should be concentrated on planning preventive and educational campaigns

Parental smoking and risk of childhood cancer: hospital-based case-control study in Shiraz

This case-control study in Shiraz aimed to determine the relationship betwterl parental smoking and childhood cancer. A questionnaire was completed by the mothers of 98 children newly diagnosed with cancer before the age of 14 years and 100 age- and sex-matched controls. Maternal smoking [prior to and during pregnancy and after the birth], and the numbers of maternal cigarettes smoked were not associated with an increased risk of childhood cancer. However, maternal exposure to passive smoke during pregnancy increased the risk of cancer childhood [OR - 3.6, 95% Cl: 1.3-5.0]. Father's smoking prior to [OR - 1.8, 95% Cl: 1.4-6.0] and during pregnancy [OR - 3.0, 95% Cl: 1.4-5.0] was significantly associated with an increased risk of cancer and this increased with heavy smoking. There were no relationship between an enhanced risk of childhood cancer and father's smoking after the child's birth

[Parental smoking and risk of childhood cancer]

Cigarette smoke increases risk of adult cancer. However, the association between parental smoking and cancer in childhood is unclear. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine the relationship between parental smoking and childhood cancer. A case-control study was conducted comparing 98 childhood cancer cases with 100 matched controls on age and sex. Data were gathered through face to face interviews using a questionnaire, in 2007-2008. All statistics were computed by the SPSS software [version 14] using chi-square, independent f-test and odds ratios. It was revealed that maternal smoking [before, during and after pregnancy] was not associated with an increased risk of cancer childhood. Although, maternal exposure to passive smoke during pregnancy was associated with cancer childhood [odds ration=3.6, 95% confidence interval: 0.4-5.0]. Postnatal smoking of fathers was not associated with risk of cancer but fathers smoked more than 11 cigarettes during pregnancy, increased the risk of cancer [odds ratio=2.7; 95% CI, 0.3-4.4]. The study indicated that paternal smoking increases the risk of childhood cancer. Therefore, nurses can help to have healthy children by educating parents to quiet smoking or smoke outside children's rooms and their environment