Tirukelem Hewan, Nigatu Solomon Gedlu, Angaw Dessie Abebaw, Azale Telake
Department of Health Education and Behavioral Science, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2021 Feb 9;17:365-377. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S292257. eCollection 2021.
Epilepsy, defined as seizure activity that is recurrent, unpredictable, and typically unprovoked. It is one of the most common disorders of the nervous system. Sociocultural attitudes in many African nations continue to have a negative impact on epilepsy management. It has been found that stigma and discrimination against people with epilepsy are more devastating and harmful than the illness itself. This is mainly attributed to misconceptions about the disease with fear and fright of the public on confronting an epileptic seizure. So, the current study assesses the community's attitude toward epilepsy patients and associated factors towards epilepsy in South Achefer District, Northwest Ethiopia.
Community-based cross-sectional study triangulated with the qualitative method was conducted from March 1 to May 30, 2020 in South Achefer District. A systematic sampling technique was used to select a total of 762 individuals. Data were collected by face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Logistic regression analysis was performed and P < 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval was considered to measure statistically significant variables. For the qualitative study participants were selected purposively. Focus Group Discussion, key Informant Interview, and Individual Depth Interview were conducted until it reaches the point of saturation. Thematic analysis was done by using an open code software version 4.2.
A total of 753 respondents participated which gave a 98.8% response rate. Among those 60.8% (95% CI: 57.2-64.3) were found to have a favorable attitude towards epilepsy patients. Being informed about epilepsy (AOR=1.47; 95% CI, 1.02-2.11), witnessing seizure in the past (AOR=1.6; 95% CI, 1.14-2.27), and having good knowledge about epilepsy (AOR=2.08; CI, 1.49-2.89) were the variables that showed statistically significant association with a favorable attitude.
The favorable attitude of the community towards epilepsy patients was found high in the study area. Information about epilepsy, witnessing seizure, and knowledge about epilepsy showed a significant association with attitude. Therefore, health professional and health extension workers should provide a larger and comprehensive community-based education to enhance people's knowledge about epilepsy to bring attitude change against a negative attitude towards epilepsy.
癫痫被定义为反复发作、不可预测且通常无诱因的癫痫活动。它是最常见的神经系统疾病之一。许多非洲国家的社会文化态度继续对癫痫管理产生负面影响。人们发现，对癫痫患者的污名化和歧视比疾病本身更具破坏性和危害性。这主要归因于对该疾病的误解以及公众对癫痫发作的恐惧。因此，本研究评估了埃塞俄比亚西北部阿切费尔南区社区对癫痫患者的态度以及与癫痫相关的因素。
2020年3月1日至5月30日在阿切费尔南区进行了基于社区的横断面研究，并结合了定性方法。采用系统抽样技术共选取了762名个体。通过面对面访谈使用结构化问卷收集数据，并使用SPSS 23版进行分析。进行逻辑回归分析，P<0.05且95%置信区间被认为可衡量具有统计学意义的变量。对于定性研究，有目的地选择参与者。进行焦点小组讨论、关键 informant 访谈和个体深度访谈，直至达到饱和点。使用开放代码软件版本4.2进行主题分析。
共有753名受访者参与，回复率为98.8%。其中，60.8%（95%CI：57.2 - 64.3）被发现对癫痫患者持积极态度。了解癫痫（优势比[AOR]=1.47；95%CI，1.02 - 2.11）、过去目睹过癫痫发作（AOR=1.6；95%CI，1.14 - 2.27）以及对癫痫有良好的了解（AOR=2.08；CI，1.49 - 2.89）是与积极态度显示出统计学显著关联的变量。
在研究区域发现社区对癫痫患者的积极态度较高。关于癫痫的信息、目睹癫痫发作以及对癫痫的了解与态度显示出显著关联。因此，卫生专业人员和卫生推广工作者应提供更广泛、全面的社区教育，以增强人们对癫痫的了解，从而改变对癫痫的消极态度。
