Objective  To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal distribution of hepatitis C in Jiangxi province and provide scientific basis for risk identification, early warning and effective prevention and control of hepatitis C.

  Methods   The surveillance data of hepatitis C in Jiangxi from 2016 to 2021 were collected, spatial autocorrelation analysis was performed with ArcGIS 10.2, and spatiotemporal epidemiological analysis was performed with SaTScan.

  Results   A total of 14 982 hepatitis C cases, including 4 deaths, were reported in Jiangxi during 2016−2021. The annual average reported incidence rate was 5.44/100000, and the average case fatality rate was 0.03%. More cases were reported in men, and the cases were mainly aged 40−69 years. The cases were was mainly farmers, the jobless or the unemployed and retirees. Spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the incidence of hepatitis C had a certain spatial clustering during 2016−2021, and the areas with high incidences were mainly distributed in counties or districts of Pingxiang, Jiujiang, Fuzhou and Nanchang. One class I clustering area and three II clustering areas were detected by spatiotemporal scanning. The class I cluster area mainly covered the urban area and surrounding counties of Pingxiang.

  Conclusion   The incidence of hepatitis C had obvious demographic characteristics and spatiotemporal clustering in Jiangxi. The urban areas and surrounding districts of Pingxiang, Jiujiang, Fuzhou and Nanchang were the key clustering areas of hepatitis C incidence, to which special attention needs to be paid.