This paper discusses the use of spatial analysis for mapping the risk of malaria in the State of Rondônia between 1994 and 2005. Moran’s overall and local indices were used for spatial pattern analysis. Based on the Annual Parasitic Index, it can be stated that the municipalities forming the area at greater risk are those in which the urbanization process is more recent. They are characterized by higher population growth, greater number of settled families and high percentages of deforested area. The Moran map showed that the aggregated areas of municipalities at high risk of malaria have undergone a process of spreading into the northwestern and northeastern regions of the State. Among the municipalities considered to be at low risk, this process has taken place towards the southeast. The techniques used in this study deserve to be compared with the current methodology used by the Health Surveillance Department for determining areas at risk and financial transfers for malaria control..
Epidemiology; Geoprocessing; Spatial analysis; Malaria
