Abstract:
Objective To analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of newly leprosy cases in different control periods in Jiangxi province from 2001 to 2020 and provide evidence for prevention and control of leprosy.
Methods Based on the spatial database of counties (districts) in Jiangxi, the statistical analysis on the newly detected leprosy cases reported in Jiangxi at different control periods from 2001 to 2020 was carried out by using SaTScan spatiotemporal scanning statistical software based on two scanning detection modes of space and time-space, and the analysis results were visualized by ArcMap.
Results From 2001 to 2020, a total of 801 newly detected leprosy cases were reported in Jiangxi. Among these cases, 1.87% were children under 15 years, 86.02% were multibacillary cases, and 20.35% suffered from grade 2 disability, 27.97% had delayed treatment for ≤12 months and most cases (82.77%) were detected passively. There was significant difference in grade 2 disability ratio in different control periods (χ2=7.032, P<0.05). The detection rate of leprosy case decreased from 0.1171/100 000 in 2001 to 0.0173/100 000 in 2020, with an average detection rate of (0.0915±0.0387) per 100 000. The average detection rate in the ten-year leprosy risk elimination period was significantly lower than that in the 10th Five-Year Plan period (Z=−3.062, P<0.01) and the 11th Five-Year Plan period (Z=−3.062, P<0.01). The simple spatial scanning showed that there were clustering areas with different clustering degrees in the three periods. There was one category I clustering areas and two category Ⅱ clustering areas in the 10th Five-Year Plan period, one category Ⅱ clustering area in the 11th Five-Year Plan period, and two category Ⅱ clustering areas in the ten-year leprosy risk elimination period, showing an expansion of clustering areas. The spatiotemporal scanning showed that two clustering areas of category Ⅰ and one clustering area of category Ⅱ were detected during 2001−2020, which were all distributed in southwestern Jiangxi during 2004−2005, 2009−2010 and 2011−2015.
Conclusion The case detection rate of leprosy decreased and the degree of spatial clustering became lower year by year in Jiangxi, but the clustering areas expanded. Leprosy prevention and control should be strengthened not only in the clustering areas, but also in the newly affected areas in the future.