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. 2013 May 23;8(5):e65022.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065022. Print 2013.

The clustering of smear-positive tuberculosis in Dabat, Ethiopia: a population based cross sectional study

Takele Tadesse  1 , Meaza Demissie, Yemane Berhane, Yigzaw Kebede, Markos Abebe
Affiliations

The clustering of smear-positive tuberculosis in Dabat, Ethiopia: a population based cross sectional study

Takele Tadesse et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: In Ethiopia where tuberculosis epidemic remains high, studies that describe hotspots of the disease are unavailable. This study tried to detect the spatial distribution and clustering of smear-positive tuberculosis cases in Dabat, Ethiopia.

Methods and findings: A population-based cross sectional study conducted in the Dabat Health and Demographic Surveillance System site from October 2010 to September 2011 identified smear-positive tuberculosis cases. Trained field workers collected demographic and location data from each study participant through house-to-house visits. A spatial scan statistic was used to identify purely spatial and space-time clusters of tuberculosis among permanent residents. Two significant (p<0.001) spatial and space-time clusters were identified in the study district.

Conclusion: Tuberculosis is concentrated in certain geographic locations in Dabat, Ethiopia. This kind of clustering can be common in the country, so the National Tuberculosis Control Program can be more effective by identifying such clusters and targeting interventions.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Map of Ethiopia, Dabat District and Dabat HDSSs [Ref.13].
Figure 2
Figure 2. Spatial distribution of TB cases, health centres and health posts in Dabat, Ethiopia, 2012.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Distributions of high rate and low rate smear-positive TB clusters, in Dabat Ethiopia, 2012.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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