Athanase Millogo1, A Helena Ngowi2, Hélène Carabin3, Rasmané Ganaba4, Alida Da4, Pierre-Marie Preux5. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Sourô Sanou University Teaching Hospital, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; INSERM, University of Limoges, CHU Limoges, UMR_S 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, F-87000 Limoges, France. Electronic address: athanase.millogo@gmail.com. 2. Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania. 3. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, USA. 4. Agence de Formation, de Recherche et d'Expertise en Santé pour l'Afrique (AFRICSanté), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. 5. INSERM, University of Limoges, CHU Limoges, UMR_S 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, F-87000 Limoges, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices regarding epilepsy and neurocysticercosis in the rural areas of Burkina Faso. MATERIALS: The interviews were designed to assess general perception of epilepsy, cultural beliefs and practices regarding epilepsy and people with epilepsy (PWE), and knowledge about the link between human epilepsy and porcine cysticercosis. This qualitative study used in-depth interviews with different categories of community members, including PWE, healthcare providers (HCPs), and traditional healers in three villages in rural Burkina Faso. RESULTS: All respondents showed a good knowledge of epilepsy symptoms but very little knowledge on causes of the disease. In this community, epilepsy was often associated with witchcraft (commonly termed "black magic"). People with epilepsy were marginalized and denied certain rights such as school education and marriage. They also relied mainly on traditional medicine with a prominent role played by traditional healers. While medical personnel knew that controlling seizures would depend on the cause, the traditional healers reported to be able to cure all kinds of epilepsy as long as the patient adhered to taboos. The main "treatments" prescribed by traditional healers were to stay away from fire and refrain from pork consumption. Pork fat was believed to reduce the effectiveness of the traditional medicine. CONCLUSION: For effective monitoring and management of epilepsy in Burkina Faso, there is a need to promote better knowledge of the disease in the community, including HCPs, and traditional healers.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and practices regarding epilepsy and neurocysticercosis in the rural areas of Burkina Faso. MATERIALS: The interviews were designed to assess general perception of epilepsy, cultural beliefs and practices regarding epilepsy and people with epilepsy (PWE), and knowledge about the link between humanepilepsy and porcine cysticercosis. This qualitative study used in-depth interviews with different categories of community members, including PWE, healthcare providers (HCPs), and traditional healers in three villages in rural Burkina Faso. RESULTS: All respondents showed a good knowledge of epilepsy symptoms but very little knowledge on causes of the disease. In this community, epilepsy was often associated with witchcraft (commonly termed "black magic"). People with epilepsy were marginalized and denied certain rights such as school education and marriage. They also relied mainly on traditional medicine with a prominent role played by traditional healers. While medical personnel knew that controlling seizures would depend on the cause, the traditional healers reported to be able to cure all kinds of epilepsy as long as the patient adhered to taboos. The main "treatments" prescribed by traditional healers were to stay away from fire and refrain from pork consumption. Pork fat was believed to reduce the effectiveness of the traditional medicine. CONCLUSION: For effective monitoring and management of epilepsy in Burkina Faso, there is a need to promote better knowledge of the disease in the community, including HCPs, and traditional healers.
Authors: P M Preux; F Tiemagni; L Fodzo; P Kandem; P Ngouafong; F Ndonko; W Macharia; L Dongmo; M Dumas Journal: Epilepsia Date: 2000-04 Impact factor: 5.864
Authors: N F Ndoye; A D Sow; A G Diop; B Sessouma; F Séne-Diouf; L Boissy; Issa Wone; K Touré; M Ndiaye; P Ndiaye; H de Boer; J Engel; C Mandlhate; H Meinardi; L Prilipko; J W A S Sander Journal: Seizure Date: 2005-03 Impact factor: 3.184