Methods: We also modeled the outcome variable breast cancer using attained age model in Cox proportional hazard regression analysis to assess the association. The models consisted of the main exposures; duration of breast feeding and initiation of breast feeding adjusted for age, education, live birth, age at menarche, age at first birth, period between first child birth and last child birth, body mass index, exercise, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), use of birth control pills, and family history of breast cancer.

Results: There was an inverse association between breast feeding and risk of breast cancer, 25% lower risk for those who have initiated breastfeeding, Months of breastfeeding was associated with risk of breast cancer, but the effect seems to be a threshold effect with any breastfeeding (1+ month) being protective compared to those who have not breastfed. Family history of breast cancer, recent HRT use, and higher education were associated with increased risk of breast cancer.

Conclusions: Breast feeding is associated with some reduction in risk of breast cancer, but the findings did not reach statistical significance. However the study is limited to a few cases hence wide confidence intervals. Further studies are required to investigate this relationship with a study sample with enough cases.

Key Words: Duration breastfeeding, women, post-menopausal, breast cancer