Study Finds Most Women Are Unaware of the Link Between Alcohol Use and Breast Cancer

A new study led by Monica Swahn, dean and professor at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, has found that the vast majority of women are unaware alcohol use can be a risk factor for developing breast cancer.

For their study, the research team surveyed more than 5,000 women over the age of 18 on their awareness that alcohol use increases risk for breast cancer, personal alcohol consumption, and sociodemographic characteristics. The results revealed that only 24.4 percent of respondents were aware of the connection between alcohol use and breast cancer. Women aged 18 to 25 were more likely than older women to be aware of the link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. The same increased levels of awareness were seen among women with a college degree and those who have alcohol use disorders. The study also found that Black women were less likely than White women to agree that alcohol consumption can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer.

The study authors believe their findings point towards the need of increased efforts to inform the United States population about the risk of alcohol use. Since levels of unawareness varied among sociodemographic populations, the authors stress that targeted interventions specifically tailored to women of different backgrounds are needed to ensure an equitable distribution of health knowledge among American women.