Spatial Analysis of Tuberculosis Event in the City of Banda Aceh

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health issue worldwide and is a leading cause of mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges in identifying and treating TB cases due to the overlap of clinical symptoms between TB and COVID-19. This situation has led to a stigma in society, resulting in individuals refraining from attending health services. This stigma has a considerable impact on decreasing case findings and delaying TB treatment. Thus, it is crucial to identify risk factors for TB and carry out prevention and control programs. Objective: This study aims to identify the clustering of TB cases and the population of AFB pulmonary TB cases. Method: This study used a descriptive-analytical method with a Geographic Information System (GIS) approach to analyze secondary data obtained from the TB Report 03 DS (Drug Sensitive) Tuberculosis Program of Aceh Province Health Office. A total of 455 cases were analyzed using QGIS 2.6.1, SatScan, and GeoDa. Result: The study found TB cases were more likely to occur in men than women and a large number of TB cases were found among productive age people. The BiLISA bivariate test demonstrated a significant association between population density and the incidence of pulmonary TB in fourteen villages in 2019 and thirteen villages in 2020. Moran's Scatterplot test showed a positive spatial autocorrelation between population density and the incidence of pulmonary TB in Banda Aceh City, with Moran's I value of 0.096 in 2019 and Moran's I value: 0.032 in 2020. The study also identified a clustering of TB cases in the Meuraxa District in 2019. Conclusion: This study highlights that men were more susceptible to TB infection, and there is a positive correlation between population density in an area and the incidence of pulmonary TB.