Why is Spatial Regression Important in Epidemiology?
Epidemiologists often deal with data that have a spatial component, such as the incidence of diseases across different geographical regions. Ignoring spatial relationships can lead to misleading conclusions. Spatial regression helps in:
- Identifying disease clusters and hotspots. - Understanding the influence of environmental and social factors on health outcomes. - Improving the accuracy of predictive models. - Informing public health policies and interventions by highlighting areas of high risk.
