Owolabi Joshua O
Department of Anatomy, Ben Carson School of Medicine, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Nigeria,
Department of Anatomy, University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda,
Neuroepidemiology. 2021;55(1):32-39. doi: 10.1159/000511789. Epub 2020 Dec 4.
Neuroepidemiology is an important field that deserves critical attention globally and more specifically on the African continent. The African continent currently has less than adequate and reliable data on mental health generally or neurological disorders. Only few prevalence and incidence studies' reports are available. Africa is affected by diverse neurological problems that deserve epidemiological attention ranging from chronic neurological disorders to outbreaks of epidemics of neurological importance, including konzo, lead poisoning, and infectious diseases of neurological importance. The current effort is an attempt to report perspectives about neuroepidemiology from Africa and to critically appraise the current scenarios toward deciphering the factors that have limited the development and advancements of the field in Africa. This article highlights specific points on needs as found and provides suggestions and recommendations on the way forward. The study was conducted in Nigeria through a network named ANDEN. Questionnaires were administered through all neuroscience-related platforms. Ninety-two respondents completed the questionnaires properly. Most respondents were young scientists with bachelors' and master's level of training and were almost equally divided between males and females. Their responses were analysed and presented as descriptive statistics and thematic summary of free responses. The interest of these African neuroscientists in neuroepidemiology ranked between high and very high. A good proportion rated the likelihood of a career path in neuroepidemiology between high and very high. The importance and relevance of the field to the advancement of mental health was also rated very high. The current attention and commitment of research efforts and funding to neuroepidemiology was, however, rated low. Many potential African neuroscientists would agree that their current greatest need is the knowledge of the subject and field of neuroepidemiology. By implication, there is a great need for them to be educated in this area. The findings showed that neuroepidemiology is a relatively neglected aspect of neurology and neuroscience research on the continent. The interest of respondents in this field underscores the critical and urgent need to develop the field, promote training and research funding toward developing capacities, and carrying out cutting edge research.
神经流行病学是一个重要领域，在全球范围内，尤其是在非洲大陆，值得给予密切关注。目前，非洲大陆关于总体心理健康或神经系统疾病的数据不足且不可靠。仅有少数患病率和发病率研究报告。非洲受到各种神经系统问题的影响，这些问题值得进行流行病学关注，从慢性神经系统疾病到具有神经学重要性的流行病爆发，包括痉挛性截瘫、铅中毒以及具有神经学重要性的传染病。当前的努力旨在报告来自非洲的神经流行病学观点，并批判性地评估当前的状况，以解读限制该领域在非洲发展和进步的因素。本文突出了所发现需求的具体要点，并就未来方向提供了建议。该研究通过一个名为ANDEN的网络在尼日利亚开展。通过所有与神经科学相关的平台发放问卷。92名受访者正确完成了问卷。大多数受访者是拥有学士和硕士学历的年轻科学家，男女比例几乎相等。对他们的回答进行了分析，并以描述性统计和自由回答的主题总结形式呈现。这些非洲神经科学家对神经流行病学的兴趣程度为高到非常高。很大一部分人认为在神经流行病学领域拥有职业发展道路的可能性为高到非常高。该领域对心理健康进步的重要性和相关性也被评为非常高。然而，目前对神经流行病学研究工作和资金的关注及投入被评为较低。许多潜在的非洲神经科学家会认同，他们目前最需要的是神经流行病学学科和领域的知识。这意味着，他们在这一领域接受教育的需求非常大。研究结果表明，神经流行病学是该大陆神经学和神经科学研究中一个相对被忽视的方面。受访者对该领域的兴趣凸显了发展该领域、促进培训和研究资金投入以培养能力并开展前沿研究的迫切和关键需求。
