The impact of socio-cultural factors on febrile convulsions in Nigeria.

Certain socio-cultural factors such as the beliefs of parents regarding febrile convulsions, and the actions they took when their children began to convulse, were examined among Nigerian parents. It was discovered that an overwhelming majority of parents had gross misconceptions about febrile convulsions, and took inappropriate or even harmful actions in an attempt to control the convulsions. It is thought that these social attitudes and behaviours contribute immensely to the high prevalence rate, high morbidity and unfavourable prognosis of febrile convulsions in this part of the world.