Demographic disparities in the limited awareness of alcohol use as a breast cancer risk factor: empirical findings from a cross-sectional study of U.S. women

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dc.creatorSwahn, Monica H.
dc.creatorMartinez, Priscilla
dc.creatorBalenger, Adelaide
dc.creatorLuningham, Justin M.
dc.creatorSeth, Gaurav
dc.creatorAwan, Sofia
dc.creatorAneja, Ritu
dc.creator.orcid0000-0002-5037-9149 (Luningham, Justin)
dc.date.accessioned2024-05-30T16:50:38Z
dc.date.available2024-05-30T16:50:38Z
dc.date.issued2024-04-19
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: Alcohol use is an established yet modifiable risk factor for breast cancer. However, recent research indicates that the vast majority of U.S. women are unaware that alcohol use is a risk factor for breast cancer. There is limited information about the sociodemographic characteristics and alcohol use correlates of awareness of the alcohol use and breast cancer link, and this is critically important for health promotion and intervention efforts. In this study, we assessed prevalence of the awareness of alcohol use as a risk factor for breast cancer among U.S. women and examined sociodemographic and alcohol use correlates of awareness of this link. METHODS: We conducted a 20-minute online cross-sectional survey, called the ABLE (Alcohol and Breast Cancer Link Awareness) survey, among U.S. women aged 18 years and older (N = 5,027) in the fall of 2021. Survey questions assessed awareness that alcohol use increases breast cancer risk (yes, no, don't know/unsure); past-year alcohol use and harmful drinking via the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT); and family, health, and sociodemographic characteristics. We conducted multivariate multinomial regression analysis to identify correlates of awareness that alcohol use increases breast cancer risk. RESULTS: Overall, 24.4% reported that alcohol use increased breast cancer risk, 40.2% reported they were unsure, and 35.4% reported that there was no link between alcohol use and breast cancer. In adjusted analysis, awareness of alcohol use as a breast cancer risk factor, compared to not being aware or unsure, was associated with being younger (18-25 years old), having a college degree, and having alcohol use disorder symptoms. Black women were less likely than white women to report awareness of the alcohol use and breast cancer link. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, only a quarter of U.S. women were aware that alcohol use increases breast cancer risk, although 40% expressed uncertainty. Differences in awareness by age, level of education, race and ethnicity and level of alcohol use offer opportunities for tailored prevention interventions, while the overall low level of awareness calls for widespread efforts to increase awareness of the breast cancer risk from alcohol use among U.S. women.
dc.description.sponsorshipThe authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.
dc.identifier.citationSwahn, M. H., Martinez, P., Balenger, A., Luningham, J., Seth, G., Awan, S., & Aneja, R. (2024). Demographic disparities in the limited awareness of alcohol use as a breast cancer risk factor: empirical findings from a cross-sectional study of U.S. women. BMC public health, 24(1), 1076. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18565-z
dc.identifier.issn1471-2458
dc.identifier.issue1
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12503/32819
dc.identifier.volume24
dc.publisherBioMed Central Ltd.
dc.relation.urihttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18565-z
dc.rights.holder© The Author(s) 2024.
dc.rights.licenseAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0 Deed)
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.sourceBMC Public Health
dc.subjectalcohol use
dc.subjectawareness
dc.subjectbreast cancer
dc.subjectUS women
dc.subject.meshBreast Neoplasms / epidemiology
dc.subject.meshBreast Neoplasms / etiology
dc.subject.meshBreast Neoplasms / prevention & control
dc.subject.meshAlcoholism
dc.titleDemographic disparities in the limited awareness of alcohol use as a breast cancer risk factor: empirical findings from a cross-sectional study of U.S. women
dc.typeArticle
dc.type.materialtext

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