Conference abstract

Analysis of meningitis outbreak data, Jaman North District (JND), August 2016

Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2017:3(56).23 Oct 2017.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2017.3.56.193
Archived on: 23 Oct 2017
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Bacteria, streptococcus pnuemoniae, neisseria meningitis, protracted, preponderance
Oral presentation

Analysis of meningitis outbreak data, Jaman North District (JND), August 2016

Bismark Kwasi Dartey1,&, Charles Lwanga Noora1, George Khumalo Kuma1

1Ghana Health Service, Sampa, Ghana

&Corresponding author
Bismark Kwasi Dartey, Ghana Health Service, Sampa, Ghana

Abstract

Introduction: meningitis is the inflammation of the covering of the brain and the spinal cord. On 28th January, an outbreak of meningitis occurred in JND. We conducted a secondary data analysis of the outbreak to characterize it to suggest preventive strategies for control of future outbreaks. The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude and the trend of the outbreak. Analysis of data focused on incidence and case fatality.

Methods: the study was descriptive secondary data analysis. Data analysis was performed by the researcher using Microsoft Excel 2007 spreadsheet. Variable S such as sex, age groups, date of onset, bacterial strain and sub district distribution were analyzed by the use of tables and graphs. Data was extracted from case based forms and line list.

Results: a total of 367 cases with 44 confirmed were recorded during the period of January to March, 2016. The case fatality rate was 0.82% and the proportion among males and females was 43.6% against 56.4%. The modal age group was 15-29 years (201 cases) and the lowest age groups were 0-14 years (49 cases) with a mean age of 58 years. Streptococcus pneumoniae formed 77.3% of confirmed cases whilst Neisseria meningitis was 20.5%.

Conclusion: sporadic, protracted propagated outbreak was observed/ Cases were more among females and the most vulnerable group were people aged 0-29 years. The predominant bacteria strain among confirmed cases was Streptococcus pneumonia. It is recommended that, Jaman North District Health Directorate should intensify IE&C on meningitis by targeting females and people less than 29 years in the district.