Knowledge and attitudes toward epilepsy among the educated community in Sudan

Abstract

Background many challenges and social barriers facing people with epilepsy (PWE), are mainly due to lack of knowledge and negative attitudes of communities toward PWE. Despite advancement in the understanding of epilepsy and the availability of epilepsy treatment, the objective of this study was to assess knowledge and attitude toward epilepsy among the educated community in Sudan. Methods in this cross-sectional descriptive internet-based survey that was conducted in Sudan during the period from January to April 2018, we developed a structured questionnaire that consists of demographic data and 16 statements to evaluate knowledge and attitude of the participants toward the nature of epilepsy, and social factors related to epilepsy. We used Google forms to collect data from participants who have a university degree or higher education. Results four hundred sixty-seven participants were included of whom 279 (60%) were females, the mean age of participants was 28.1 years (S.D. +/- 8.435). The majority of participants obtained their information from non-scientific sources, 69.6% had witnessed a seizure attack, and 38.3% have a relative with epilepsy, 77.9% knew that epilepsy is a problem in brain cells, while only 27.4% were aware that genetic factors may contribute to epilepsy. The participants had good knowledge that epilepsy is an organic disease rather than possession by the devil (8.1%), or punishment from God (0.6%), they were also aware that epilepsy is neither a mental illness (82.9%), nor contagious (96.6%), they think that epilepsy is controllable (92.7%), but not curable (49.5%). Our studied group had positive attitudes regarding marriage and employment in people with epilepsy (PWE), allowing PWE to attend family gatherings (96.4%), permitting children with epilepsy (CWE) to go to school (94%), and their children to play with CWE (93.8%). Conclusion the study demonstrated good knowledge and fair attitudes towards epilepsy. The female gender was significantly associated with good knowledge and positive attitudes towards epilepsy.