A Study of Spatial Distribution of Tuberculosis Cases in the States and Union Territories of India

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern, having a worldwide prevalence and a concerning health issue in developing nations, especially among low-to-middle income.The study aimed to examine the spatial distribution of TB incidence across the states and union territories of India from 2017 to 2024.Methods: Using secondary data obtained from the national TB portal (https://reports.nikshay.in),the mean annual incidence (MAI) rate of TB per 100,000 population was calculated for each region based on reported case counts and census 2011 population data.Geographic analysis was performed using QGIS 3.42.3 to produce a choropleth map of TB incidence, and quantile-based classification was applied to categorize the regions into four levels of disease burden: Low, moderate, severe, and very severe.Results: A total of 1,74,54,649 TB cases were reported during the study period.Mean annual incidence values ranged from 27 in Lakshadweep to 558 in Delhi, with a national average of 175 per 1,00,000 population.Ten regions were classified as having low incidence, nine as moderate, eight as severe, and nine as very severe.Conclusion: There is a substantial regional disparity in TB burden across India and offers a framework for targeted public health interventions based on geographic prioritization.