A retrospective evaluation of cerebrospinal meningitis data in upper West Region, Ghana, 2015-2021

Abstract

Cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) is a disease of public health concern for countries within the Sahel region and Ghana. The Upper West Region has been recording CSM cases over the years. This study seeks to generate evidence using CSM data from the region to make recommendations to improve surveillance. To establish evidence to improve surveillance, we pooled CSM surveillance dataset from 2015 to 2021 for all the 11 districts/municipalities in the region. The study employed retrospective descriptive cross-sectional review design using both univariate and bivariate analysis. A total of 2,066 cases within the study period were reported. Out of these cases, 50.82% (1,050/2,066) were males while the remaining 49.18% were females. The proportion of reported cases aged 0 to 29 years was 65.34%. The Overall Case Fatality Rate (CFR) was 10.8% (233/2,066). In all, 74% of the cases were recorded between January and April. Laboratory confirmed cases were 18% The result further showed that 17% (X2= 18.69; P < 0.000) of these Laboratory-confirmed cases died. Also, 8% of the negative cases and 10% of laboratory suspected cases died. Most CSM cases were recorded in the dry season with victims being persons younger than 30 years. Almost a quarter of the cases were laboratory confirmed and the most recent year witness a decline in morbidity and mortality rates. There is need to note these trends and intensify CSM surveillance to improve on the laboratory confirmed cases.