Birrie Deresse1, Debebe Shaweno2. 1. Neurology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia. Electronic address: birrieneuro@yahoo.com. 2. School of Public and Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Despite being a common disorder, epilepsy is misunderstood by the general public, leading to fear, secrecy, stigmatization, and the risk of social discrimination. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards persons with epilepsy among rural and urban dwellers in South Ethiopia. METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional community-based study was conducted among 1316 (656 from rural and 660 from urban) adult respondents in South Ethiopia. RESULTS: The most cited causes of epilepsy were brain disease (40.6%) by urban respondents and evil spirits (34.6%) by rural respondents. More urban (21.7%) than rural (16.5%) respondents believed that epilepsy is contagious (P=0.016). About 39% of rural compared with 7% of urban respondents would not allow their children to associate with a person with epilepsy (P<0.001), and 56.7% of rural compared with 24.8% of urban respondents objected to themselves or their children marrying someone with epilepsy (P<0.001). The majority of the respondents in both groups (75.5% from urban and 56.4% from rural) would recommend a medical doctor for the treatment of epilepsy, but herbal medicine and spiritual treatments such as prayers and Holy water were still commonly practiced. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a significant difference in epilepsy KAP between urban and rural dwellers, with the former having more positive attitudes. A comprehensive epilepsy educational campaign is necessary to advance understanding among the general population, thereby improving patient care.
INTRODUCTION: Despite being a common disorder, epilepsy is misunderstood by the general public, leading to fear, secrecy, stigmatization, and the risk of social discrimination. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards persons with epilepsy among rural and urban dwellers in South Ethiopia. METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional community-based study was conducted among 1316 (656 from rural and 660 from urban) adult respondents in South Ethiopia. RESULTS: The most cited causes of epilepsy were brain disease (40.6%) by urban respondents and evil spirits (34.6%) by rural respondents. More urban (21.7%) than rural (16.5%) respondents believed that epilepsy is contagious (P=0.016). About 39% of rural compared with 7% of urban respondents would not allow their children to associate with a person with epilepsy (P<0.001), and 56.7% of rural compared with 24.8% of urban respondents objected to themselves or their children marrying someone with epilepsy (P<0.001). The majority of the respondents in both groups (75.5% from urban and 56.4% from rural) would recommend a medical doctor for the treatment of epilepsy, but herbal medicine and spiritual treatments such as prayers and Holy water were still commonly practiced. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a significant difference in epilepsy KAP between urban and rural dwellers, with the former having more positive attitudes. A comprehensive epilepsy educational campaign is necessary to advance understanding among the general population, thereby improving patient care.
Authors: Nawal F Abdel Ghaffar; Reem N Asiri; Laith N Al-Eitan; Reem S Alamri; Reem M Alshyarba; Faris A Alrefeidi; Ashwag Asiri; Mansour A Alghamdi Journal: Epilepsy Behav Rep Date: 2021-04-09
Authors: Izabel Cristina Santiago Lemos de Beltrão; Yasmin Ventura Andrade Carneiro; Gyllyandeson de Araújo Delmondes; Luiz de Beltrão Lima Junior; Marta Regina Kerntopf Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-15 Impact factor: 3.390