A Geospatial Analysis of Socio- economic Determinants for Cancer in Women Living in Tripura, India

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer, a foremost cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, poses unique challenges for women, particularly in areas where limited healthcare resources. Cancer is viewed as a disease of individual cells that results from one or more mutations, leading to the malignant transformation of that cell and its offspring. Breast cancer, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer are the most common cancers among women in Tripura. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate geographically women cancer patients in Tripura, a North-Eastern state of India. The mapping of the geographical distribution of female cancer patients in Tripura has been completed and is being seen as a major public health challenge in North East India.  Every year, there are more than 7 lakh new patients registered, and the mortality rate is approximately 5.5 lakhs. The geographical distribution of women cancer incidence of cases are registered in the North Eastern part of India, and is being considered as one of the major public health problems in North East India. Methods and Results:  The Government Hospital cancer registry at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Regional Cancer Centre (ABVRCC) in Agartala, Tripura, India collected a total of 250 registered women with cancer. The data of cancer patients was exported to Quantum Geographical Information System (QGIS) platform 3.4 for mapping the geographical distribution and analysing the spatial patterns of women cancer patients. Statistical analysis of χ2 test was performed for analysing the association between the cancer patients and the socio-economic risk factors, p-value <0.0001, and to assess the vulnerable age group of the cancer patients p-value < 0.05, and literacy level in association with cancer cases p-value < 0.0001 and economically status of Below poverty line (BPL) group are highly affected groups p-value 0.436. Socioeconomic risk factors are highly associated with the spatial clustering of breast cancer occurrence. Conclusion: The state's cancer incidence is geographically spread, with the West Tripura district accounting for the majority of cases, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, and head and neck cancer are the three cancers among the fourteen are classified. The affected age group ranges from 31 to 90 years old, and is the most susceptible to these major cancers. In Tripura, the socio-economic determinants of cancer in women reveal a complex network of interconnected elements that significantly affect health outcomes. The importance of better understanding of the socioeconomic risk factors and their house location are important which makes an impact on the incidence and treatment in the state has the geospatial appraisal.