Spatiotemporal analysis of meningitis mortality in Brazil between 2001 and 2021

Introduction: Brazil shows heterogeneous regional patterns of meningitis mortality. Between 2001 and 2021, 22,764 deaths were recorded nationwide. Objective: To analyze the spatial distribution and epidemiological profile of meningitis-related mortality in Brazil from 2001 to 2021. Methods: An epidemiological study with a spatial analysis approach. Death data were obtained from the Mortality Information System (SIM/DATASUS) and population data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) to calculate mortality rates. The epidemiological profile was described according to sex, age, race, marital status, education level, and municipality. Temporal trends were assessed using Joinpoint, and spatial analyses were performed using GeoDa. Results: Over the study period, the highest mortality occurred among men (59%), infants under 1 year of age (17%), White individuals (49%), single individuals (39%), and those with 4 to 7 years of completed schooling (16%). Spatial analysis identified clusters of high mortality rates mainly in the Central-West and Southeast regions. The municipalities with the highest rates were Ipueiras (5.6 per 100,000), Muliterno (5.15 per 100,000), and Oliveira de Fátima (4.5 per 100,000). The average mortality rate was 0.56 per 100,000, peaking in 2001 (0.79 per 100,000) and reaching its lowest level in 2021 (0.27 per 100,000), with an average annual decrease of 4.38%. Conclusion: Meningitis mortality decreased in Brazil. This study identified municipalities with high mortality rates and existing clusters, highlighting target populations and the need for targeted strategies.