[Spatial autocorrelation analysis on schistosomiasis cases and Oncomelania snails in three provinces of the lower reach of Yangtze River].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the spatial distribution of schistosomiasis cases and Oncomelania snails in the provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui and Jiangxi with the assistance of geographic information systems (GIS).

METHODS

Epidemiological data of schistosomiasis in recent 20 years were collected, and the relevant GIS databases were established. The spatial autocorrelation analysis was carried out with ArcView 3. x, S-Plus, and Spatial Statistics software.

RESULTS

Except for schistosomiasis cases in Jiangsu, the spatial distribution of schistosomiasis cases and Oncomelania snails in the three provinces were fitted to the spatial autocorrelation at a certain degree. Generally the autocorrelation coefficients (Moran's I) in Oncomelania snails were higher than that in schistosomiasis cases.

CONCLUSION

Spatial autocorrelation analysis can be used to estimate the value of one variable in different spatial position, and it is a good way to find out the spatial cluster distribution in different stages.