[Epidemiology of cancer of the breast in Mexico. Consequences of demography transition].

OBJECTIVE

Analyze the relation between reductions in fertility and the inverse en breast cancer mortality in the different states of Mexico for the period 1979-1994.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Fertility rates and beast cancer mortality rates were utilized to analyze the proposed relationship in the states of the country. Principal component analysis and classification analysis were then used in the confirmatory analysis of this relationship.

RESULTS

There is an important decrease in fertility trends overall with regional differences: the northern states of Mexico have lowest then the southern states. These regional differences are inversely related to the observed differences in breast cancer mortality within the states: the northern states have levels of breast cancer mortality much higher than the southern states.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase in mortality due to breast cancer and its relation to the decrease in fertility illustrates the importance that must be given to the preventive aspect of health services since in the near future Mexican women will exhibit reproductive behaviors similar to women in developed countries.