title: Spatial distribution of trachoma cases in the City of Bauru, State of São Paulo, Brazil, detected in 2006: defining key areas for improvement of health resources.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial behavior of the occurrence of trachoma cases detected in the City of Bauru, State of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2006 in order to use the information collected to set priority areas for optimization of health resources.
  
  
  METHODS
  the trachoma cases identified in 2006 were georeferenced. The data evaluated were: schools where the trachoma cases studied, data from the 2000 Census, census tract, type of housing, water supply conditions, distribution of income and levels of education of household heads. In the Google Earth® software and TerraView® were made descriptive spatial analysis and estimates of the Kernel. Each area was studied by interpolation of the density surfaces exposing events to facilitate to recognize the clusters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 66 cases detected, only one (1.5%) was not a resident of the city's outskirts. A positive association was detected of trachoma cases and the percentage of heads of household with income below three minimum wages and schooling under eight years of education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recognition of the spatial distribution of trachoma cases coincided with the areas of greatest social inequality in Bauru city. The micro-areas identified are those that should be prioritized in the rationalization of health resources. There is the possibility of using the trachoma cases detected as an indicator of performance of micro priority health programs.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brasil. karlm@fmb.unesp.br
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Macharelli
authors.forename: Silvana Artioli
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Schellini
authors.forename: Paula Araujo
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Opromolla
authors.forename: Ivete
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dalben
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D062305:Geographic Mapping; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014141:Trachoma / Q000453:epidemiology*