Spatial distribution of incidence of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in São Paulo state

• Grant number: 11/21419-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2012
• End date: March 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Fernando Costa Nascimento
• Grantee: Camila de Moraes Santos Gomes
• Host Institution: Instituto Básico de Biociências (IBB). Universidade de Taubaté (UNITAU). Taubaté , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is a malignancy, the most common type of cancer in children. Although ALL etiology is unknown, probably it is multifactorial, featuring a complex epidemiological profile. The study of this profile opens ways for primary prevention. For this purpose, a spatial analysis of acute lymphocytic leukemia opens a vast field for epidemiological research on space-society relationships. Therefore, this project aims to identify spatial patterns of incidence in children under 15 years of age in the state of Sao Paulo in the period 2000 to 2009. The ecological and exploratory study will be conducted based on the manipulation of data obtained from the Cancer Center of São Paulo, with subsequent application of Moran's I statistic, local Moran index, and the kernel estimator. Regions will be identified with the highest incidence of ALL, and will be analyzed the existence of some factor that contributes to the spatial distribution of it, can identify areas where interventions should occur, to minimize ALL incidences or even improve health conditions in the region. (AU)