Indidence of tuberculosis in children in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, under spatial approach.

The aim of this study was to identify spatial patterns in the incidence of childhood tuberculosis in cities in the state of São Paulo. An ecological and exploratory study was carried with data on new cases of tuberculosis in children 0 to 14 years old for the period 2001 to 2005 and from 2006 to 2010, obtained from DATASUS. Data of the population of this age group were collected and raised rates per 100 000 inhabitants. Moran's index (I) was calculated for both periods. Thematic maps with the rates and its difference besides Moran maps, maps with Kernel densities, educational level and income were constructed using using TerraView software. The average rates were 3.23 / 100 000 inhabitants in the first period (2881 cases reported) and 2.13 / 100 000 inhabitants in the second period (2513 cases reported); the Moran index in the first period was I = 0.03 (p = 0.16) and I = 0.06 (p = 0.01) in the second period; the thematic map identified 462 municipalities with higher interest rates in the second period; the kernel map identified higher density rates in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, west coastal cities and in the first period and the second period, the metropolitan region of São Paulo and coastal cities. The data presented in this study provide informations to local and regional managers to implement policies for tuberculosis control.