[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.