Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ASCO Annual Meeting 2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Keep up to date with all the top stories and latest evidence with our hub page, including official congress videos and expert takeaways.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Epilepsy | Research article

Knowledge and attitude towards epilepsy among rural residents in southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Authors: Alemayehu Molla, Birhanie Mekuriaw, Endashaw Habtamu, Moges Mareg

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2021

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Although epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological problems, it is highly surrounded by stigma and prejudice, which results in negative attitude towards the illness. Due to numerous misconceptions and beliefs attributed towards epilepsy, most people in rural communities have poor understanding and perception about epilepsy. Studying knowledge and attitude of this major neurologic problem among rural residents is crucial to add knowledge and show area of interventions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude towards Epilepsy among rural residents in Ethiopia.

Methods

This was a community based cross-sectional study conducted in rural parts of Gedeo zone, Southern Ethiopia. A total of 732 randomly selected adult residents were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire. The collected data were entered to Epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were performed. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the presence of a statistically significant association between explanatory variables and outcome variables at corresponding 95% CI.

Results

The magnitude of poor knowledge and unfavorable attitude towards epilepsy were 27.0 and 51.6%, respectively. Participants who can’t read and write, having stigma related to epilepsy, participants who did not live with epileptic patients; unfavorable attitude and age were factors associated with poor knowledge towards epilepsy. On the other hand, Stigma related to epilepsy, poor knowledge, age and perceiving epilepsy as a God punishment for sinful activities were variables significantly associated with unfavorable attitude of epilepsy.

Conclusions

There is a gap regarding the knowledge and attitude towards epilepsy among community residents in southern Ethiopia. This demonstrates a need for community educational program regarding epilepsy which can increase community awareness particularly in rural areas to decrease stigma and negative beliefs towards epilepsy.
Literature
1.
Unwin N, Mugusi F, Aspray T, Whiting D, Edwards R, Mbanya J, et al. Tackling the emerging pandemic of non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: the essential NCD health intervention project. Public Health. 1999;113(3):141–6.PubMed
2.
Aramyan L. Survey of parents of children with epilepsy in Yerevan, Armenia–knowledge, attitude, compliance with treatment. College of Health Sciences, American University of Armenia; 2005. p. 01–61.
3.
Tran D-S, Odermatt P, Singphuoangphet S, Druet-Cabanac M, Preux P-M, Strobel M, et al. Epilepsy in Laos: knowledge, attitudes, and practices in the community. Epilepsy Behav. 2007;10(4):565–70.CrossRef
4.
Meinardi H, Scott R, Reis R, On Behalf Of The Ilae Commission on the Developing World JS. The treatment gap in epilepsy: the current situation and ways forward. Epilepsia. 2001;42(1):136–49.CrossRef
5.
Neligan A, Sander J. The incidence and prevalence of epilepsy. London: UCL Institute of Neurology; 2009.
6.
Aydemir N. Familiarity with, knowledge of, and attitudes toward epilepsy in Turkey. Epilepsy Behav. 2011;20(2):286–90.CrossRef
7.
Obeid T. Stigma. An aspect of epilepsy not to be ignored. Saudi Med J. 2008;29(4):489–97.PubMed
8.
Teferi J, Shewangizaw Z. Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice related to epilepsy: a community-based study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2015;11:1239.PubMedPubMedCentral
9.
Njamnshi AK, Tabah EN, Bissek A-CZ-K, Yepnjio FN, Angwafor SA, Dema F, et al. Knowledge, attitudes and practices with respect to epilepsy among student nurses and laboratory assistants in the south west region of Cameroon. Epilepsy Behav. 2010;17(3):381–8.CrossRef
10.
Njamnshi AK, Angwafor SA, Tabah EN, Jallon P, Muna WF. General public knowledge, attitudes, and practices with respect to epilepsy in the Batibo Health District, Cameroon. Epilepsy Behav. 2009;14(1):83–8.CrossRef
11.
Shibre T, Alem A, Tekle-Haimanot R, Medhin G. Perception of stigma in people with epilepsy and their relatives in Butajira, Ethiopia. Ethiop J Health Dev. 2006;20(3):170.
12.
Lua PL, Neni WS. Awareness, knowledge, and attitudes with respect to epilepsy: an investigation in relation to health-related quality of life within a Malaysian setting. Epilepsy Behav. 2011;21(3):248–54.CrossRef
13.
Lim KS, Lim CH, Tan CT. Attitudes toward epilepsy, a systematic review. Neurol Asia. 2011;16(4):269.
14.
Jacoby A. Stigma, epilepsy, and quality of life. Epilepsy Behav. 2002;3(6):10–20.CrossRef
15.
De Boer HM, Mula M, Sander JW. The global burden and stigma of epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2008;12(4):540–6.CrossRef
16.
Beghi E, Berg A, Carpio A, Forsgren L, Hesdorffer DC, Hauser WA, et al. Comment on epileptic seizures and epilepsy: definitions proposed by the international league against epilepsy (ILAE) and the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE). Epilepsia. 2005;46(10):1698–9.CrossRef
17.
Gedefa M, Wolde T, Solomon G. Knowledge, attitudes and practices with respect to epilepsy among preparatory school students in Mekelle city, Ethiopia. Int J Collab Res Internal Med Publ Health. 2012;4(3):202.
18.
FDRE P, Commission FDRoEPC. Summary and statistical report of the 2007 population and housing census: population size by age and sex. Addis Ababa: Population Census Policy; 2008.
19.
Central stastical Agency E. Cences 2007 on southern nations nationalities and peoples’ region; 2007.
20.
Eshete A, Taye F. Magnitude of severe head injury and its associated factors among head injury patients in gedeo zone, southern Ethiopia: a two-year retrospective study. Ethiop J Health Sci. 2018;28(3):323–30.CrossRef
21.
Negash YM. An assessment on the impact of road traffic accidents on human security in Gedeo zone (Ethiopia). J Stud Manage Planning. 2015;1(5):18–37.
22.
Mbuba CK, Abubakar A, Hartley S, Odermatt P, Newton CR, Carter JA. Development and validation of the Kilifi epilepsy beliefs and attitude scale. Epilepsy Behav. 2012;24(4):480–7.CrossRef
23.
Njamnshi AK, Tabah EN, Bissek A-CZ-K, Yepnjio FN, Kuate C, Angwafor SA, et al. Knowledge, attitudes and practice with respect to epilepsy among secondary school students in the Kumbo west Health District-north west region-Cameroon. Epilepsy Behav. 2010;18(3):247–53.CrossRef
24.
Bozkaya İO, Arhan E, Serdaroglu A, Soysal AS, Ozkan S, Gucuyener K. Knowledge of, perception of, and attitudes toward epilepsy of schoolchildren in Ankara and the effect of an educational program. Epilepsy Behav. 2010;17(1):56–63.CrossRef
25.
Fernandes PT, Salgado PC, Noronha AL, Sander JW, Li LM. Stigma scale of epilepsy: validation process. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2007;65:35–42.CrossRef
26.
Ezeala-Adikaibe BA, Achor JU, Nwabueze AC, Agomoh AO, Chikani M, Ekenze OS, et al. Knowledge, attitude and practice of epilepsy among community residents in Enugu, south East Nigeria. Seizure. 2014;23(10):882–8.CrossRef
27.
28.
Babikar HE, Abbas IM. Knowledge, practice and attitude toward epilepsy among primary and secondary school teachers in South Gezira locality, Gezira state, Sudan. J Fam Community Med. 2011;18(1):17.
29.
Saengsuwan J, Boonyaleepan S, Srijakkot J, Sawanyawisuth K, Arunpongpaisal S, Chaiyakum A, et al. Public perception of epilepsy: a survey from the rural population in northeastern Thailand. J Neurosci Behavior Health. 2009;1(1):006–11.
30.
Thien DD, Jallon P. Survey of public awareness, attitudes, and understanding toward epilepsy in Nhan Chinh, Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2003. Epilepsy Behav. 2006;8(1):176–80.CrossRef
31.
Alhazzani AA, Alqahtani AM, Abouelyazid A, Alqahtani AM, Alqahtani NA, Asiri KM, et al. Public awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward epilepsy in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia—a community-based cross-sectional study. Epilepsy Behav. 2016;63:63–6.CrossRef
32.
Tuan NA, Cuong LQ, Allebeck P, Chuc NTK, Tomson T. Knowledge attitudes and practice toward epilepsy among adults in BaVi, Vietnam: first report from the population-based EPIBAVI study. Epilepsia. 2007;48(10):1914–9.CrossRef
33.
Shehata GA, Mahran DG. Knowledge and attitude of epilepsy among secondary schools students (epileptic and non-epileptic) in Assiut city “Egypt”. Epilepsy Res. 2011;95(1–2):130–5.CrossRef
34.
Shorvon S, Farmer P. Epilepsy in developing countries: a review of epidemiological, sociocultural, and treatment aspects. Epilepsia. 1988;29:S36–54.CrossRef
35.
Hasan SS, Allen Y, Wayne W, Ahmadi K, Anwar M, Goh G. Understanding of and attitudes toward epilepsy among the urban Chinese population in Malaysia. Singapore Med J. 2010;51(4):290.PubMed
36.
Saengpattrachai M, Srinualta D, Lorlertratna N, Pradermduzzadeeporn E, Poonpol F. Public familiarity with, knowledge of, and predictors of negative attitudes toward epilepsy in Thailand. Epilepsy Behav. 2010;17(4):497–505.CrossRef
37.
McEwan L, Taylor J, Casswell M, Entwistle R, Jacoby K, Gorry J, et al. Knowledge of and attitudes expressed toward epilepsy by carers of people with epilepsy: a UK perspective. Epilepsy Behav. 2007;11(1):13–9.CrossRef
38.
Spatt J, Bauer G, Baumgartner C, Feucht M, Graf M, Mamoli B, et al. Predictors for negative attitudes toward subjects with epilepsy: a representative survey in the general public in Austria. Epilepsia. 2005;46(5):736–42.CrossRef
39.
Neni SW, Latif AZA, Wong SY, Lua PL. Awareness, knowledge and attitudes towards epilepsy among rural populations in East Coast peninsular Malaysia: a preliminary exploration. Seizure. 2010;19(5):280–90.CrossRef
40.
Kabir M, Iliyasu Z, Abubakar I, Kabir Z, Farinyaro A. Knowledge, attitude and beliefs about epilepsy among adults in a northern Nigerian urban community. Ann Afr Med. 2005;4(3):107–12.
41.
Osama A, El Smahy MAEF, Moawad S. Public attitudes and knowledge toward epilepsy in Ismailia governorate. Egypt J Psychiatry. 2016;37(2):104.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Knowledge and attitude towards epilepsy among rural residents in southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors
Alemayehu Molla
Birhanie Mekuriaw
Endashaw Habtamu
Moges Mareg
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
Epilepsy
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10467-8

Other articles of this Issue 1/2021

BMC Public Health 1/2021 Go to the issue

Research article

Geospatial analysis of determinants of neonatal mortality in Ghana

Research article

Progress towards the 2020 fast track HIV/AIDS reduction targets across ages in Ethiopia as compared to neighboring countries using global burden of diseases 2017 data

Research article

Barriers to using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and sexual behaviour after stopping PrEP: a cross-sectional study in Germany

Research in practice

Research on aging during the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis: the experience of the Maracaibo aging study

Research article

Anemia and associated factors among adolescent girls and boys at 10–14 years in rural western China

Research

Relative children’s lipid accumulation with hypertension in Chinese children and adolescents