Spatiotemporal patterns and incidence trends of other infectious diarrhea in Qinghai Province, 2009–2023: a surveillance-based analysis

Background: While other infectious diarrhea (OID) has a persistent increase in occurrence throughout China, its epidemiological traits in high-altitude regions are inadequately studied. Qinghai Province, situated on the Tibetan Plateau, offers an essential context for analyzing OID patterns under unique climatic conditions. Methods: We examined reported incidence data for OID in Qinghai Province from 2009 to 2023. Temporal trends were evaluated by Joinpoint regression and Seasonal-Trend decomposition using Loess (STL) decomposition, while methods including spatial autocorrelation, cluster analysis, hotspot analysis, the Gravity center shift model, and standard deviation ellipse were utilized. Results: < 0.001), pinpointing Xining City and Haidong City as the principal high-high cluster areas encompassing eight counties. Standard deviational ellipse analysis revealed a primary clustering region centered around Xining and Haidong with a dominant northeast-southwest spatial axis. The incidence centroid remained consistently concentrated in the eastern area south of Xining city, exhibiting a three-phase migration pattern of stable fluctuation, significant southwestward shift, and gradual return to the core area over the study period. Conclusions: The incidence of OID in Qinghai Province has markedly risen, exhibiting distinct spatial clustering and demographic variations. These ecological findings suggest priority regions (Xining, Haidong) and populations (children under five, the older adults) for targeted public health interventions and warrant further investigation into environmental and healthcare-related determinants.