AUTHOR=Zhang Zhihai , Hou Xiaoyan , Liu Maomao , Wu Maoxuan , Zhu Ping , Zhou Xiaoyi TITLE=Spatio-Temporal Distribution Characteristics of Syphilis: on the Scale of Towns (Streets) in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, China JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health VOLUME=70 YEAR=2025 URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2025.1606875 DOI=10.3389/ijph.2025.1606875 ISSN=1661-8564 ABSTRACT=Objectives

To investigate the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics and changing trends of syphilis in Nantong city.

Methods

Joinpoint regression model, spatial autocorrelation and SaTScan spatio-temporal scanning were used to analyze the trend of syphilis reported incidence and spatio-temporal distribution characteristics in Nantong City.

Results

From 2013 to 2022, the reported incidence of syphilis in Nantong City increased at an average annual rate of 6.60%, of which the increase rate of latent syphilis was 13.45%. The high-high clustering areas were mainly distributed in 15 streets of Chongchuan District and all streets of Nantong Development Zone. SaTScan spatio-temporal scanning detected a total of two clustering areas, all from 2021 to 2022. The first cluster includes 24 streets with a radius of 16.27 km, and the second cluster includes 18 streets within a radius of 34.90 km.

Conclusion

The reported incidence of syphilis in Nantong City showed an increasing trend, mainly manifested as an increase in latent syphilis, and the reported incidence of syphilis in various towns (streets) showed obvious spatial clustering, and attention should be paid to key areas and targeted interventions should be formulated.