Comparative Analysis of Spatial Agglomeration Methods Getis-Ord and Besag and Newell for Dengue Epidemiology Paraíba, Brazil

This study aimed to carry out a comparative analysis between methods for detecting Besag-Newell and Getis-Ord space clusters. This was an epidemiological study, retrospective with a quantitative approach, whose data used for analysis refer to the number of annual confirmed cases of dengue in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, and which correspond to the years 2018 to 2021. They were registered throughout the state of Paraíba, 52,780 confirmed cases of dengue in the analyzed period. Although there is variability in results, the Getis-Ord method could present better results when compared to the Spatial Incidence Ratio maps. This method also detected clusters of low value, in other words, that has certain protection regarding the disease vector. Therefore, the methods used in this study showed variability in results when compared, demonstrating the importance of applying and evaluating the most appropriate method for the object of study.