Meningococcal Meningitis Data Analysis, Amhara National Regional State of Ethiopia, 2015-2019; a Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Meningococcal meningitis is a disease of major public health importance especially for countries in the meningitis belt. The retrospective data analysis had provided helpful information to understand the current prevalence of meningococcal meningitis. The trends of meningococcal meningitis had provided useful estimates on the effect of seasonal variability of meningitis, and the distribution of disease burden. So the objective of this study is to assess and describes the magnitude and distribution of Meningitis in Amhara national regional state of Ethiopia from 2015-2019. Method: Meningococcal meningitis surveillance data of the Amhara region from 2015-2019 were reviewed to describe the disease epidemiology. The study involves a retrospective descriptive analysis of collected clinical data and line list reported to EPHI from 2015-2019 through the Public Health Emergency Management Surveillance system. Result: Of the total 894 patients and 25 deaths, highly contributing zones were North Shewa with 195 (21.81%) patients, North Gondar with 145 (16.22%) patients, and South Wollo with 101(11.30%) patients. Of the total patients, 534 were treated as impatient patients while 371 were treated as outpatient patients. The regional patient fatality rate is 2.80 and the attack rate is 4.59 per 100,000 population. Meningococcal meningitis morbidity is high in North Gondar, South Wollo, and North Shewa, and mortality are high in North Shewa, South Wollo, and East Gojjam respectively. There was high morbidity with low mortality like in North Gondar and North Shewa. Conclusion: Meningococcal meningitis is affected by geographical factors common in arid areas. In epidemic week 38 of 2015 (dry season), there was a meningococcal meningitis outbreak in north Gondar specifically in west Armachiho district. Patient management is poor in those high mortality areas like North Shewa, South Wollo, and East Gojjam. Laboratory-based surveillance should be implemented to identify common serotypes of N. meningitides.