Perceived stigma and associated factors among people with epilepsy at Gondar University Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional institution based study

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is the world's most common neurological disorder, affecting approximately 69 million people worldwide. Perceived stigma affects many domains of the lives of people with epilepsy. However, in Ethiopia there is dearth of study on perceived stigma specifically among people with epilepsy. Objective: To assess the prevalence of perceived stigma and associated factors among people with epilepsy (PWE) attending the outpatient department of the University of Gondar hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2014. Methods: Institution based quantitative cross -sectional study was employed among 408 individuals people with epilepsy. Single population proportion formula was used utilized to calculate sample size. The participants were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Perceived stigma was measured using by the modified Family Interview Schedule (FIS) tool. Binary logistic regression analysis and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval were used to identify the associated factors with perceived stigma.. Results: Overall, the prevalence of perceived stigma was found to be 71.6%. Conclusion:Overall, the prevalence of perceived stigma was found to be high. Marital status, long duration of illness and seizure frequency were factors associated with perceived stigma.

Treatments for people living with schizophrenia in Sub‐Saharan Africa: an adapted realist review

“…There was an association between perceived stigma, socio‐demographic factors such as lower education, poor adherence to treatment and the duration of illness (Bifftu et al. ). Other studies reported similar findings (Pooe et al.…”

Perceived Stigma in Epilepsy Patients in a Low Income Country; Ethiopia: A Review and Meta-Analysis of the Prevalence and Related Factors.

“…Our screening for eligible articles resulted in 10 studies (20,(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34), that assessed perceived stigma AND/OR the associated factors among 4016 people with epilepsy in the context of Ethiopia. All of the 10 studies were cross-sectional studies published between 2009 and 2018.…”

“…All of the 10 studies were cross-sectional studies published between 2009 and 2018. Of these studies, three were conducted in Addis Ababa (28,29,32); the capital city of Ethiopia, another three were from Oromia regional state (20,33,34), two from Amhara regional state (27,30) and the remaining two from southern Ethiopia (SNNP) (26,31).…”

“…Considering the measurement tool, one study used Jacoby stigma scale (32), two studies used modi ed Family Interview Schedule (FIS) (20,27), another two used three-item stigma scales (28,34), and four utilized Kili stigma scale (29)(30)(31)33) to measure perceived stigma in people with epilepsy. However, the assessment tool was not speci ed in one of the included studies.…”

“…In another review of literature in Nigeria, the psychopathology associated with epilepsy is the main factor for perceived stigma in people with epilepsy (37). In Ethiopia too rural residence, poor income and education, young age, frequent seizure occurrence, contagion believe regarding epilepsy, longer duration of epilepsy, and presence of psychopathology was associated with perceived stigma (20,27,29,32,33).…”