Analysis of meningitis surveillance data 2014-2018, Bawku Municipality, Ghana

Introduction: Meningitis is a major public health threat in Ghana with a case fatality rate between 36% and 50%. The Bawku Municipality lies within the Meningitis belt. We analyzed meningitis surveillance data in the Municipality to determine the incidence of meningitis cases by person, place, and time, and to identify the commonest causative agents. Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis of meningitis surveillance data in the Bawku Municipality in the Upper East Region of Ghana from 2014-2018. We extracted data from the Municipal Health Information Management System 2 (DHIMS2) and linelist from the District Disease Control Unit using a checklist. We performed descriptive data analysis using Microsoft Excel version 2016 and reported frequencies and proportions. We calculated the incidence of suspected cases and expressed per 100,000 population. Results: A total of 98 suspected cases were recorded in the Bawku municipality between 2014 and 2018. Of the 98 suspected cases, 38 (38.8%) were laboratory confirmed. A large proportion were males [52.0%, (51/98)] and were within 1-15 years [45.9% (45/98)] and 16-30 years (38.8%, 38/98). An outbreak occurred in 2017. The majority of the cases (90.8%, 89/98) were recorded between January and May. Neisseria meningitis (Nm W135) 81.6%(31/38) was the most prevalent etiological agent isolated followed by Streptococcal pneumonia 18.4% (7/38). The overall case-fatality rate (CFR) was 6.1% (6/98). Conclusion: There was a seasonal trend of meningitis cases over the period. Neisseria meningitis W135 was the commonest cause of meningitis and affected persons aged 30 years and below. Control measures at the municipality should target the commonest causative agents and younger populations. Keywords: Meningitis; surveillance; secondary; data analysis; Bawku municipality.