Spatio-Temporal Pattern of Tuberculosis in the Regions Supervised by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2006–2012

BACKGROUND The present study aimed to identify the spatial distribution of tuberculosis and determine the TB control program parameters in the regions supervised by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2006-2012. METHODS The present ecological study was performed on 1797 TB patients in Shiraz University in 2006-2012 which were recorded by health centers using TB Register software. The study data were collected through over-counting and analyzed using the SPSS statistical software (ver. 19). Besides, the maps were drawn by ArcGIS, version 10. RESULTS The incidence rate of TB was 4.8 in 100,000 at the end of 2012. Success in treatment was adequate only in 2012 (89.7%). However, recovery of pulmonary TB was not adequate in any of the study years. In our study, the majority of the patients belonged to the 25-34 years age group that constitutes the active faction of the society. Moreover, the maps provided by GIS showed a high incidence rate of extra pulmonary TB in Firozabad Township during 7 years (2.7 in 100000 populations). CONCLUSION Incidence of TB in the regions supervised by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences follows a specific pattern, which requires exclusive studies for further evaluation of the incidence determinatives in various environmental and social conditions.