A survey on factors associated with leukemia in children referred to Imam Ali Hospital in Zahedan from 2011 to 2016

Background and Objective: Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer, accounting for about 35.8% of all cancers in this period. The incidence of this cancer in children due to unknown causes is one of the major health problems in all over the world. This study was conducted to determine the factors associated with leukemia in children of Sistan and Baluchestan province.Materials and Methods: This case-control study was performed on 120 children under the age of 18 years old with leukemia referred to Imam Ali hospital in Zahedan during 2011 - 2016 and 240 children hospitalized in other hospitals of the province due to other diseases that were not related to leukemia. Children were matched in group by age and gender. Demographic variables, variables related to childhood conditions and maternal-dependent variables were investigated. To determine the relationship between variables and the risk of leukemia, the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals through logistic regression was analyzed using SPSS-16 software and chi- square and Fisher s exact test.Findings: Of 120 children with leukemia (57.5%) were male and (42.5%) were female and age group of 5-9 years had the highest frequency (45%). The results of this study showed that father s level of education, income, vaccination, having a history of allergy, having a history of going to kindergarten and father s high risk job was associated with leukemia (p< 0.05). But only the vaccination variables (CI = 1.03-21: 95% = CI, OR = 0.13), going to kindergarten (0.22-0.72: CI = 95%, OR = 406), and interactions of two Income variable and going to kindergarten (1.55-4.27: 95% = CI, OR = 578) were good predictors of leukemiaConclusion: Since the low income, not having a history of attendance at kindergarten and not complete childhood vaccination were good predictor for leukemia, a long-term plan to promote the cultural, social and economic level of the people of the province, continuous education different people in the community are required to improve the level of health literacy and reduce the chance of having leukemia in the province s children. Considering the small sample size of this study due to the rare cancer condition, more extensive studies are suggested at the same time in several provinces.

Keywords:

cancer , children , factors associated , leukemia