Impact of knowledge, attitudes, and sociocultural factors on school enrollment of children with epilepsy in Gabon

Abstract

Purpose: Perceptions, beliefs and culture influence attitude towards epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa. Misconceptions on epilepsy contribute to the persistence of negative attitudes in children with epilepsy particularly on their school enrollment. The aim of the study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and sociocultural factors affecting schooling of children with epilepsy in Gabon. Meth ods: Teachers and health workers from two urban and four rural localities of Gabon were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Overall 1310 subjects filled the survey questionnaire, including 813 teachers and 497 health workers. Knowledge on risk factors and suggestive signs of childhood epilepsy were globally poor. Misconceptions on etiology of epilepsy were significant with contagiousness (27.5%) and demonic possession (16.0%) representing the major prevalent idea about the origin of epilepsy in children. Attitudes of teachers and health workers towards schooling of children with epilepsy were positive (85.0%). However, more than half recommended enrollment of these children in specialized school programs. In multivariate analysis, education level (OR = 1.40; 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.81) and marital status (OR = 1.62; 95% confidence interval 1.18-2.22) were sociocultural factors likely to affect chances of school enrollment of children with epilepsy. Conclusion: Understanding the influence of socio-cultural factors surrounding school enrollment of children with epilepsy could enhance public awareness campaigns about epilepsy and to improve school integration of these children.

Knowledge and Attitudes Among Preschools Staff in Shanghai, China, Regarding Epilepsy

“…In this survey, most of the staff members' attitudes towards children with epilepsy were positive: 63.7% of the staff members allowed their children to survey and play with children with epilepsy, 70.1% of the staff members believed that seizures are not dangerous for other children, and 81.7% of the staff members agreed that most children with epilepsy can attend public school. These ndings are similar to another survey that found that the attitudes of teachers towards the enrollment of children with epilepsy in regular schools were positive [15]. However, some staff members' attitudes towards children with epilepsy were negative: 55.4% of teachers were afraid to have children with epilepsy in the classroom, and they wanted other students to come into the classroom only after the children with epilepsy were controlled or cured.…”

“…This rate was similar to the one found in survey in Togo [18], where only 30% of caregivers recognized that epilepsy could be cured by using medicines. However, Ibinga et al reported that 42.8% of the staff in their survey thought that epilepsy could be treated by modern or traditional medicine [15]. Seventeen percent of the staff in this survey thought that epilepsy is an infectious disease, which is higher than the same gure in a survey (10%) from Ethiopia [11].…”

“…This survey determined that 69% of the staff would choose to put an object in the mouth of the child to prevent him or her from biting his or her tongue. The staff seemed to be unaware of the danger of putting an object between the teeth of a seizing child [15], and the rate was similar to that of a survey conducted in Germany [10]. In this survey, we compared the proportion of teachers with health-care training and teachers without health-care training who implemented the correct rst-aid procedures during a seizure, and we found that it is more common for teachers with health-care training to implement the right measures, such as laying children on their side, than for other teachers to do so.…”

“…Section A focused on the demographic information of the participants. Section B comprised 16 simple-choice questions on knowledge about the treatment of epilepsy that came from previously published papers [11][12][13][14][15][16]. Section B included the following aspects: (1) knowledge about the cognitive and behavioral characteristics of people with epilepsy (e.g., "Most children with epilepsy can go to public schools"); (2) knowledge about the causes and symptoms of and treatments for epilepsy (e.g., "For most patients with epilepsy, seizures can be controlled with drugs"); and (3) knowledge about seizure manifestations and the management of a seizure (e.g., "When you see a person having a seizure, can you stop the seizure") [16].…”

Knowledge and attitudes among preschools staff in Shanghai, China, regarding epilepsy

“…Section A focused on the demographic information of the participants. Section B comprised 16 simple-choice questions on knowledge about the treatment of epilepsy that came from previously published papers [12][13][14][15][16]. Section B included the following aspects: (1) knowledge about the cognitive and behavioral characteristics of people with epilepsy (e.g., "Most children with epilepsy can go to public schools"); (2) knowledge about the causes and symptoms of and treatments for epilepsy (e.g., "For most patients with epilepsy, seizures can be controlled with drugs"); and (3) knowledge about seizure manifestations and the management of a seizure (e.g., "When you see a person having a seizure, can you stop the seizure") [16].…”