Epidemiological analysis of meningitis, Sunyani Municipality, Bono Region of Ghana, 2015-2019: (A secondary data analysis)

Background: Meningitis is a vaccine-preventable disease yet it remains a global public health  issue that causes long-term disability and death. Ghana being located within the meningitis belt  of African, the occurence of consistent outbreaks of Meningitis in different parts of Ghana has  been a peculiar surveillance challenge. We analyzed the Sunyani Municipal meninigitis  surveillance data to determine the incidence, describe disease pattern, fatality, and identify the  Meningitis strain. Methods: We extracted meningitis surveillance data for January 2015 to December 2019 from  the District Health Information Management System. We reviewed the annual meningitis line-list  of the Sunyani Municipality Bono Region. Data were identified, cleaned and analysed using  Microsoft Excel. We performed descriptive statistics on quantitative variables and estimated  incidence rate and case fatality rates and determined the predominant strains. Results: From 2015-2019, 84 suspected cases were recorded with 17 laboratory confirmed in  Sunyani and seven meningitis deaths. The overall incidence rate was 2/100,000 population, with  a 7/17 (41.2%) case fatality rate. the highest incidence rate (8 per 100,000 population) was  reported in 2016 while 2018 recorded the highest fatality rate of 2/2 (100%). We identified  12/17(70.6.%) of Streptococcus pneumoniae as the predominant Meningitis strain. Weekly  reporting timeliness and completeness were below the World Health Organization recommended  80% reporting target. Conclusions: There was a high case fatality rate of Meningitis among the residents in Sunyani  Municipality, and Streptococcus pneumoniaee was the predominant strain identified. The highest  incidence was recorded in 2016 within the period studied. The timeliness and completeness of  weekly reporting for the five years was also below the World Health Organization target. The  Sunyani Municipal Health Directorate intensify their active case search of Meningitis, implement  vaccination campaigns in high-risk areas and ensure prompt reporting to prevent future epidemics