Objective: To analyze the notification status on new sputum-smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) over the recent years in China, and identify the clusters to address the related reasons.
Methods: To spatially and temporally scan the data regarding notification, and to display the results via geographic information system.
Results: (1) Spatial analysis identified 6 clusters and their relative risks ranged from 1.03 to 1.83 with statistical significance; (2) Temporal analysis identified there were clusters between 2005 and 2007 in terms of notification on new sputum-smear positive pulmonary TB, and the relative risk was 1.27 (P = 0.001); (3) Spatial and temporal analysis identified 2 clusters and the relative risks of the first class cluster and the second class cluster were 1.35 and 1.49 respectively with statistical significance. Provinces included in the first class cluster were basically the same as these in spatial analysis.
Conclusion: Distribution of the notification on new sputum-smear positive pulmonary TB was not stochastic at space, time and space-time, and clusters did exist in China.