Public Knowledge and Attitude towards Epilepsy and Its Associated Factors: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Ethiopia, 2019

Joint Authors

Basha, Elyas Admasu
Wubetu, Abate Dargie
Alemnew Engidaw, Nigus

Source

Journal of Environmental and Public Health

Issue

Vol. 2020, Issue 2020 (31 Dec. 2020), pp.1-8, 8 p.

Publisher

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Publication Date

2020-07-17

Country of Publication

Egypt

No. of Pages

8

Main Subjects

Public Health
Medicine

Abstract EN

Background.

Epilepsy is a disease of the brain defined by any of the following conditions.

First, at least two unprovoked (or reflex) seizures occurring greater than 24 hours apart, and secondly, the presence of one unprovoked (or reflex) seizure and a probability of further seizures.

Due to persisted misunderstandings and negative attitudes, individuals living with epilepsy live with a poor quality of life.

Therefore, this study aimed to assess the community general knowledge about epilepsy and attitude towards person living with epilepsy and its associated factors.

Methods.

A community-based cross-sectional study conducted from March 10 to June 10, 2019, to assess the community general knowledge and attitude towards epilepsy and its associated factors.

Data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and transported to SPSS version 21 for analysis.

Results.

596 study participants participated in a response rate of 98%.

Among the study participants, 43.6% (95% CI: 39.6, 47.5) had poor knowledge and 41.3% (95% CI: 37.4, 45.1) had an unfavorable attitude.

Lack of modern education, married, never witnessed a seizure, and not hearing the term epilepsy showed statistically significant association with poor knowledge about epilepsy.

Lack of modern education, earning less than 1000 Ethiopian birr, not witnessing seizure, not hearing the term epilepsy, and half to one-hour walking time from health facility variables showed statistically significant association with the unfavorable attitude about epilepsy.

Conclusions.

The current study revealed that nearly half of Debre Berhan dwellers have deficits in terms of general knowledge about epilepsy and attitude towards a person living with epilepsy.

Poor knowledge about epilepsy and unfavorable attitude towards a person living with epilepsy are likely to have an important impact on stigmatization and treatment-seeking behavior, and it should be given due attention.

It would be better if health educators give special emphasis for the individuals with predictors of poor knowledge and unfavorable attitude.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Wubetu, Abate Dargie& Basha, Elyas Admasu& Alemnew Engidaw, Nigus. 2020. Public Knowledge and Attitude towards Epilepsy and Its Associated Factors: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Ethiopia, 2019. Journal of Environmental and Public Health،Vol. 2020, no. 2020, pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1184379

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Wubetu, Abate Dargie…[et al.]. Public Knowledge and Attitude towards Epilepsy and Its Associated Factors: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Ethiopia, 2019. Journal of Environmental and Public Health No. 2020 (2020), pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1184379

American Medical Association (AMA)

Wubetu, Abate Dargie& Basha, Elyas Admasu& Alemnew Engidaw, Nigus. Public Knowledge and Attitude towards Epilepsy and Its Associated Factors: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Ethiopia, 2019. Journal of Environmental and Public Health. 2020. Vol. 2020, no. 2020, pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1184379

Data Type

Journal Articles

Language

English

Notes

Includes bibliographical references

Record ID

BIM-1184379