Current beliefs and attitudes regarding epilepsy in Mali

Abstract

Our study demonstrates widespread misconceptions in Mali regarding epilepsy. Our findings argue for more education initiatives focused on the entire population, including traditional healers, to provide knowledge, reduce stigma, and improve quality of life for individuals living with epilepsy.

Parental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards children with epilepsy in Belgrade (Serbia)

“…Almost all respondents (99.5%) knew that epilepsy is not an infectious disease. In comparison, a lesser proportion of Turkish parents (89.5%) were certain about this fact, while in Mali, 21% of parents did not believe that the disease is contagious [18,2]. However, considerably low percentage of parents (68.1%) in our study was certain that epilepsy was not a psychiatric disorder, which may also reflect certain cultural beliefs.…”

“…It has been noted that traditional beliefs and lack of knowledge strongly influence attitudes towards epilepsy [1][2][3]5]. Keeping in mind that this chronic neurological disorder occurs in 0.5 to 1.0% of children under the age of 16 [7], we have found that the burden of epilepsy most commonly involves informal caregivers.…”

“…However, considerably low percentage of parents (68.1%) in our study was certain that epilepsy was not a psychiatric disorder, which may also reflect certain cultural beliefs. Studies have reported that parents in diverse cultures, in fact, consider epilepsy as a mental disorder [23] or of supernatural or spiritual origin [2,18,24], clearly indicating differences in education and cultural backgrounds across regions. The role of parental education level in relation to overall epilepsy knowledge was substantiated in our survey through the statistically significant positive correlation as well as through the multiple linear regression model.…”

“…Public awareness and attitudes towards epilepsy differ across cultures [1][2][3][4][5][6]. It has been noted that traditional beliefs and lack of knowledge strongly influence attitudes towards epilepsy [1][2][3]5].…”

Perceptions of epilepsy among first-year medical students at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda

“…The belief that epilepsy is contagious has been repeatedly demonstrated in other African countries [3][4][5][6][7][13][14][15]. This belief greatly impacts people with epilepsy and their safety during a seizure because bodily fluids (saliva, sweat, urination) are common during a seizure, and if someone believes that they may "catch" epilepsy, they will be less likely to help a patient in need.…”