Spatial distribution of cancer patients in Dhi Qar Governorate

Abstract

The spatial distribution of cancer patients in Dhi Qar Governorate takes on varying and fluctuating patterns from one period to another. It began to increase after the second war on Iraq in 2003, which witnessed a significant rise in the study area during the period (2013-2023). This was accompanied by a rise in the rate of environmental pollution and a decline in health services at all levels. The study area suffers from a lack of services and centers dedicated to cancer tumors. The number of cases increased during the study period, reaching (7017) cases distributed across the districts of Dhi Qar Governorate. There are common diseases, most notably breast cancer, which reached (707) cases. There are less common cases, most notably thyroid cancer, which reached a total of (401) cases. Most cancer cases were concentrated in the city of Nasiriyah. The research study showed that the increase in cases was due to internal factors and increased environmental pollution in the study area.