Spatial clustering and changing trend of hepatitis C prevalence during 2008-2012 in China

Objective To explore spatial clustering,specific clustering areas,as well as changing trend of clustering areas with years for hepatitis C(HC)in China,and to provide scientific evidence for HC prevention and control.Methods Exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) including Moran's I and Getis was used to conduct spatial statistical analyses on HC surveillance data during 2008-2012 in China at city level.Results Global Moran's I coefficients were 0.235 9,0.230 2,0.231 1,0.254 6,and 0.243 6 from 2008 to 2012,respectively,and all P-values were less than 0.001 using Monte Carlo test.When local autocorrelation analysis was applied to the city level data,56 hot spot areas were detected in Shanxi,Inner Mongolia,Liaoning,Jilin,Heilongjiang,Shaanxi,Gansu,Qinghai,Ningxia,and Xinjiang in 2008;49 hot spot areas in Inner Mongolia,Liaoning,Jilin,Heilongjiang,Shaanxi,Gansu,Qinghai,Ningxia,and Xinjiang in 2009;52 hot spot areas in Shanxi,Inner Mongolia,Liaoning,Jilin,Heilongjiang,Shaanxi,Gansu,Qinghai,Ningxia,and Xinjiang in 2010;54 hot spot areas in Shanxi,Inner Mongolia,Liaoning,Jilin,Heilongjiang,Henan,Shaanxi,Gansu,Qinghai,Ningxia,and Xinjiang in 2011;47 hot spot areas in Shanxi,Inner Mongolia,Liaoning,Jilin,Heilongjiang,Henan,Shaanxi,Gansu,Qinghai,and Xinjiang in 2012,respectively.Conclusion The incidence rate of HC in the males was higher than that in the females,and increased with age.The spatial clustering of HC incidence from 2008 to 2012 was moderate and clustering areas were mainly distributed in the northeast and northwest in China.