title: The clustering of smear-positive tuberculosis in Dabat, Ethiopia: a population based cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Ethiopia where tuberculosis epidemic remains high, studies that describe hotspots of the disease are unavailable. This study tried to detect the spatial distribution and clustering of smear-positive tuberculosis cases in Dabat, Ethiopia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A population-based cross sectional study conducted in the Dabat Health and Demographic Surveillance System site from October 2010 to September 2011 identified smear-positive tuberculosis cases. Trained field workers collected demographic and location data from each study participant through house-to-house visits. A spatial scan statistic was used to identify purely spatial and space-time clusters of tuberculosis among permanent residents. Two significant (p<0.001) spatial and space-time clusters were identified in the study district.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tuberculosis is concentrated in certain geographic locations in Dabat, Ethiopia. This kind of clustering can be common in the country, so the National Tuberculosis Control Program can be more effective by identifying such clusters and targeting interventions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, the University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. takele_tadesse@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Takele
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tadesse
authors.forename: Meaza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demissie
authors.forename: Yemane
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Berhane
authors.forename: Yigzaw
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kebede
authors.forename: Markos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abebe
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population