Incidence of Neonatal Meningitis and the Premature Mortality in Eastern Sub-saharan Africa, From 1990 to 2023: A Global Burden of Diseases Study

Abstract

Objective Quantify neonatal meningitis incidence and years of life lost (YLLs) in Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA) from 1990 to 2023. Methods Secondary analysis of GBD data analyzed temporal trends by location, year and sex. Bayesian meta-regression estimated incidence, cause of death ensemble modeling calculated YLLs, and spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression smoothed trends. Estimates include 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). Results In 2023, ESSA’s neonatal meningitis incidence rate was 2,542 per 100,000 (95% UI: 2,043–3,065), heavily concentrated in early neonates (5,415) versus late neonates (1,574). The regional YLL rate was 24,855 per 100,000, driven by early neonates (66,882). Somalia and South Sudan exceeded regional averages. Globally, YLL rates declined from 1990 to 2023 (Annual Rate of Change: -0.70%). Conclusion ESSA faces a severe neonatal meningitis burden skewed toward early neonates. Urgent strategies must scale up maternal screening, intrapartum antibiotics, and rapid diagnostics for fast-tracked treatment.