Residential Mobility: Implications for the Accuracy of Disease Cluster Detection

Keywords: residential mobility, GIS, public health, cluer detection, satscan
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Public health organizations are increasingly relying on space-time clustering techniques to target place-based health initiatives such as prevention. However, the methodological techniques can benefit from refinement. The complexity of human mobility, disease dynamics, and privacy concerns are persistent challenges to the validity of cluster detection methods.

In this presentation, we discuss the impact of residential mobility on the validity of space-time cluster detection. Specifically, we will present findings on the level of granularity at which residential histories should be studied before clusters become unnoticed. This line of research contributes to public health efforts to respond to disease outbreaks in the future.