Tuberculosis Among South American Immigrants In Sao Paulo Municipality: An Analysis In Space And Time

OBJECTIVE : To identify spatial and temporal, and spatial variation in temporal trends in clusters of tuberculosis (TB) among South American migrants residing in Sao Paulo municipality, SP, Brazil, between 2006 and 2013.DESIGN: An ecological descriptive study was conducted using data obtained from official TB reports and the 2010 Brazilian demographic census. Clusters were identified using scan statistics and SaTScan software; those with P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Social and economic characteristics of residents within the clusters were investigated.RESULTS : One high-risk spatial cluster (relative risk [RR] 4.46, P < 0.001) for TB was identified. Bolivian immigrants comprised the majority of immigrants residing in this area. One purely temporal high-risk cluster was identified between 2011 and 2013 (RR 1.55, P = 0.001). In one of the spatial variation in temporal trends clusters, the annual increase in TB incidence was 17.54% inside the cluster and 5.17% outside.CONCLUS IONS : We found areas of high risk for TB among South American immigrants. These areas and those with increasing trends of TB incidence must be prioritised by TB control programmes.