General public knowledge, attitudes, and practices with respect to epilepsy in the Batibo Health District, Cameroon

Njamnshi, Alfred K.; Angwafor, Samuel A.; Tabah, Earnest Njih; Jallon, Pierre; Muna, W. F. T.

doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.09.012

Cited by 66 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Njamnshi et al have had similar findings in Batibo in the North West region of Cameroon [6]. Christians were more likely to know someone who had epilepsy (p=0.011), and to have witnessed an epileptic seizure (p < 0.0001) compared to Muslims.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Public awareness, knowledge and practice relating to epilepsy amongst adult residents in rural Cameroon - case study of the Fundong health district

Bain

Awah²,

Takougang³

et al. 2013

Pan Afr Med J

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IntroductionEpilepsy associated stigma remains a main hindrance to epilepsy care, especially in developing countries. In Africa, anti-epileptic drugs are available, affordable and effective. As of now, no community survey on epilepsy awareness and attitudes has been reported from this area Cameroon with a reported high prevalence of epilepsy.MethodsTo contribute data to the elaboration of the National Epilepsy Control Programme, we carried out a cross-sectional descriptive community survey of 520 households. We had as main objective to obtain baseline data on the knowledge, attitudes and practice of adults towards epilepsy in rural Cameroon, and compare with existing data.ResultsMost respondents had heard or read about epilepsy, knew someone who had epilepsy and had seen someone having a seizure. The most frequently cited cause of epilepsy was witchcraft. Most subjects believed epilepsy is contagious. Epilepsy was a form of madness or insanity to 33.5% of them. Only 54.9% of respondents would meet a medical doctor for the treatment. Most respondents would not permit equal employment opportunities, association and child's marriage to someone with epilepsy. Age, female sex and level of education were associated to negative attitudes (p<0.001).ConclusionAdults in Fundong are very acquainted with epilepsy but have many erroneous beliefs about the condition. Their attitudes are generally negative. The National Epilepsy Programme must insist on modes of transmission, treatment options and first aid measures during epileptic seizures. The elderly (>50 years) and those without any formal education should be the main targets during health information, education and communication programmes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Public awareness, knowledge and practice relating to epilepsy amongst adult residents in rural Cameroon - case study of the Fundong health district

Bain

Awah²,

Takougang³

et al. 2013

Pan Afr Med J

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“…Most of them learned about epilepsy through doctors, and this increases the responsibility of health professionals in delivering adequate information. However, a lack of knowledge about epilepsy in the general population is still observed 21,22 . Our sample showed that the knowlegde about epilepsy may influence the way adolescents relate to the disease and may provide greater success in adapting and accepting the limits imposed by epilepsy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-esteem, social support perception and seizure controllability perception in adolescents with epilepsy

Siqueira

Guerreiro

Souza

2011

Arq. Neuro-Psiquiatr.

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Objective: Compare the self-esteem of adolescents with epilepsy and adolescents without epilepsy and relate it to social support and seizure controllability perception. Method: The study sample consisted: case participants (34 subjects) attending the pediatric epilepsy clinic of University Hospital and control participants (30 subjects) from public schools in Campinas-SP. The instruments utilized were: identification card with demographic and epilepsy data, a semi-structured interview on aspects of the disease, and a SelfEsteem Multidimensional Scale. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups but majority of adolescents with epilepsy presented higher self esteem rate, have knowledge about epilepsy, presented high levels of social support and seizure controllability perception. There was no significant relationship between social support and seizure controllability perception with self-esteem. Conclusion: Knowledge about epilepsy, social support such good controllability seizure perception seem are important contingencies for a better evaluation of self esteem in adolescents with epilepsy.

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“…The latter quality is typical of patients seen in sub-specialty epilepsy clinics, but not of patients seen in general neurology practice. Patients with greater economic security and higher educational attainment may feel less stigmatized, though the available data suggest that epilepsy stigma is a world-wide phenomenon [2–4, 6–9, 11, 12, 14, 19, 20, 25]. With respect to the use of alternative epilepsy treatments, the overall rate of 77% in our population is higher than that reported in other U.S. populations of PWE, where the rate is typically about 40% [22–24].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The appearance of a convulsive seizure, the peculiar behaviors that may accompany complex-partial seizures, and the psychic phenomena that often comprise seizure auras have fueled millennia of epilepsy stigmatization. Folk, religious or spiritual notions of its causes and treatments are common, especially in the developing world [2, 5, 8, 10–14]. Such beliefs are often in conflict with those of treating physicians trained in allopathic medicine.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patient beliefs about epilepsy and brain surgery in a multicultural urban population

Prus

Grant

2010

Epilepsy & Behavior

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We assessed beliefs about epilepsy and brain surgery, and the use of alternative epilepsy treatments in a culturally diverse population of people with epilepsy (PWE). Data were obtained from a structured questionnaire administered to 109 PWE treated at a single epilepsy center. Patients were born in 17 countries on five continents. Most patients identified culturally with the Caribbean (41%), USA (39%) or Latin America (9%). 69% of patients endorsed at least one of five stigma-related questions, and 77% used at least one alternative epilepsy treatment. Brain surgery was rated as having a mean dangerousness of 8.3 (1 to 10 scale) among the 94 patients with no history of neurosurgery. In addition, 51% of these patients would not consider surgical treatment even if it were guaranteed to stop their seizures without causing deficits. Educational efforts aimed at reducing both epilepsy stigma and fear of resective epilepsy surgery are needed.

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General public knowledge, attitudes, and practices with respect to epilepsy in the Batibo Health District, Cameroon

Cited by 66 publications

References 13 publications

Public awareness, knowledge and practice relating to epilepsy amongst adult residents in rural Cameroon - case study of the Fundong health district

Public awareness, knowledge and practice relating to epilepsy amongst adult residents in rural Cameroon - case study of the Fundong health district

Self-esteem, social support perception and seizure controllability perception in adolescents with epilepsy

Patient beliefs about epilepsy and brain surgery in a multicultural urban population

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