Salih A Abdulla1. 1. Department of Nursing, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitudes of primary school managers regarding epilepsy among school children in Erbil City, Iraq. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in primary schools between 18 June and 18 August 2013. A total of 80 primary school managers were selected to answer a questionnaire covering three domains: socio-demographical characteristics, knowledge of epilepsy and attitudes towards epilepsy. RESULTS: More than half of the participants (55%) had spent less than 10 years in school administration. More than one-third (37.5%) of the participants believed that epilepsy was an infectious disease, and over half of the respondents (53.75%) stated that epilepsy cannot be treated or prevented. CONCLUSION: Although the respondents' attitudes towards pupils with epilepsy were generally positive, their knowledge of epilepsy was imperfect; thus, an epilepsy education campaign is required. This should focus on the causes of epilepsy and its management.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitudes of primary school managers regarding epilepsy among school children in Erbil City, Iraq. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in primary schools between 18 June and 18 August 2013. A total of 80 primary school managers were selected to answer a questionnaire covering three domains: socio-demographical characteristics, knowledge of epilepsy and attitudes towards epilepsy. RESULTS: More than half of the participants (55%) had spent less than 10 years in school administration. More than one-third (37.5%) of the participants believed that epilepsy was an infectious disease, and over half of the respondents (53.75%) stated that epilepsy cannot be treated or prevented. CONCLUSION: Although the respondents' attitudes towards pupils with epilepsy were generally positive, their knowledge of epilepsy was imperfect; thus, an epilepsy education campaign is required. This should focus on the causes of epilepsy and its management.
Entities:
Keywords:
Attitudes; Epilepsy; Health Knowledge; Iraq; Practice