Geospatial analysis and identification of space-time clusters of MDR-TB in South Africa, 2006-2012

摘要

Background: The utility of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as tools for disease surveillance and health service allocation is increasingly recognized within the public health community worldwide. GISs have been previously used to study the geographic distribution of TB and to detect clusters in high TB prevalence settings. In South Africa, similar analyses have been done in limited geographic areas, but never on a national scale. Historical data on the burden of TB across the districts and provinces of South Africa has recently become available.