Abstract
Author(s): Ahmed Ziarra Khalaf*, Mazin A. Abdulaa, Ahmed A. R. Issa, Nawar H. Khalil
Breast cancer is a major global health issue, particularly among women, and its risk factors include genetics and modifiable lifestyle, and socioeconomic conditions. This prospective study, which was conducted in Basrah, Iraq, examined the sociodemographic and anthropometric profiles of 121 patients with breast cancer. Data were collected via structured interviews and review of medical records. Variables such as age, marital status, employment, financial status, residential area type, educational level, housing type, and body mass index were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings. The average age of the participants was 50.75 ± 11.02 years. Most of them were married (85.1%) and living in urban areas (56.2%). A significant proportion had limited education (illiterate: 28.9%), and the majority were unemployed (82.6%). Over half of the participants reported an acceptable financial status (52.1%), and most lived in houses that they owned (51.2%). Further, almost half were obese (46.3%). These results underscore the effect of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors on breast cancer risk, thereby emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to facilitate early detection and address healthcare disparities. This study offers critical insights into the demographic and anthropometric characteristics of patients with breast cancer in Basrah. The findings can then be used as a basis for the development of effective public health strategies for reducing the impact of the disease.