Confounding effects of age, marital status and treatment on the cervical cancer stages among Malaysian women

Cervical cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer disease among women in developing countries including Malaysia. Several factors have been identified as contributing towards the development of cervical cancer but this study was carried out to investigate whether age, marital status, ethnicity could relate to the development of four cervical cancer stages (Stage I, Stage II, Stage III, and Stage IV). A record of 444 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer were obtained from a databank at Casemix Unit, Health Information Department in UKM Medical Centre. Multiway association tables were developed to test the homogenous and partial associations between the categorical variables using Likehood-Ratio statistics and residual analysis. The study found that most women were diagnosed with cervical cancer Stage II at the mean age of 57 years old. Age and treatment have also shown strong significant associations with cervical cancer stages. The estimated odds of being diagnosed with cervical cancer showed that married women in the age category of less than 57 years old were four times more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer Stage I rather than Stage II. Most were mainly treated with operations rather than other treatments at an early stage. Women at the age category of 66 years old and above who were diagnosed with cervical cancer were seven times more likely to have undergone radiotherapy treatment than women at the age of less than 45 years old while married women aged 46 years and above have high tendency of developing cervical cancer Stage I. It is strongly recommended for the Malaysian women to go for cervical cancer screening test before the age of 45 because this study had shown that majority were already diagnosed with cervical cancer stage II at the age of 50 and above. The type of treatment at earl