Experiences and service-uptake factors of receiving and providing care for meningitis and its sequelae: a qualitative systematic review

Authors

• Margarita Andreeva, University of British Columbia
• Maria Pyatnitskaya, Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Rotterdam
• Karina Kochneva, Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry
• Ekaterina Sviatskaia, Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry
• Maria Spryshkova, Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry
• Melissa Meyer, University College Cork
• Dina Baimukhambetova, Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Child’s Health, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Sechenov University, Moscow
• Mark Kosenko, Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Child’s Health, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Sechenov University, Moscow
• Aigun Mursalova, Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Child’s Health, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Sechenov University, Moscow
• Nina Avdeenko, Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Child’s Health, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Sechenov University, Moscow
• Elena Kondrikova, Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Child’s Health, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Sechenov University, Moscow
• Jonathan Zheng, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London
• Ka Yan Cheung, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London
• Audrey Dunn Galvin, University College Cork
• Tom Jewell, Care for Long Term Conditions Division, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London
• Zoe Moula, Care for Long Term Conditions Division, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London
• Sarah Neill, School of Nursing and Midwifery
• Mikhail Zinchuk, Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry
• Alla Guekht, Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry
• Daniel Munblit, Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Child’s Health, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Sechenov University, Moscow

ORCID

• Sarah Neill: 0000-0001-9699-078X

Abstract

Meningitis is a life-threatening condition with substantial morbidity and mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While quantitative research has enhanced the understanding of diagnostic and treatment efficacy, qualitative data regarding the lived experiences remain underexplored. This systematic review synthesises qualitative evidence on the experiences of patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers regarding meningitis diagnosis, treatment, and care, as well as the barriers and facilitators influencing service uptake and provision. The review aimed to inform the development of World Health Organization guidelines for improving meningitis care.

DOI Link

10.1186/s12916-026-04765-4

Publication Date

2026-04-13

Publication Title

BMC Medicine

Acceptance Date

2026-02-27

Deposit Date

2026-04-21

Funding

This study was funded by the WHO.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Andreeva, M., Pyatnitskaya, M., Kochneva, K., Sviatskaia, E., Spryshkova, M., Meyer, M., Baimukhambetova, D., Kosenko, M., Mursalova, A., Avdeenko, N., Kondrikova, E., Zheng, J., Cheung, K., Dunn Galvin, A., Jewell, T., Moula, Z., Neill, S., Zinchuk, M., Guekht, A., & Munblit, D. (2026) 'Experiences and service-uptake factors of receiving and providing care for meningitis and its sequelae: a qualitative systematic review', BMC Medicine, . Available at: 10.1186/s12916-026-04765-4