Objective: To understand the hot/cold spots and the spatial-temporal clustering of hepatitis B in Gansu province during 2009-2014 by using spatial statistics, and provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of hepatitis B.
Methods: The spatial hot/cold spots and its trend, and the time frame and areas of its spatial-temporal clustering of hepatitis B in Gansu were analyzed by using the county specific incidence of hepatitis B from 2009 to 2014 and spatial statistical software GeoDa and SatScan.
Results: The incidences of hepatitis B from 2009 to 2014 in Gansu were spatial autocorrelated respectively. Local G scan statistics indicated that the number of hot spots was in decline in Hexi area, while the hot spots was in increase in Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture and Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture. There was no obvious pattern in cold spots. Temporal-spatial scan statistics showed that the areas with high hepatitis B incidence most likely clustered in Hexi area during 2009-2011, and the areas with low hepatitis B incidence most likely clustered in eastern Gansu during 2012-2014.
Conclusions: The spatial and temporal clustering of hepatitis B was observed in Gansu from 2009 to 2014. The number of hot spots in Hexi area was in decline, while the numbers of hot spots in Linxia and Gannan were in increase, suggesting that the hepatitis B control and prevention in these areas should be strengthened.