Lugelongi Masanja Laurent, Kilale Andrew Martin, Mwape Kabemba Evans
Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Livestock Training Agency (LITA), Tengeru Campus, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Arusha, Tanzania.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2025 Aug 1;19(8):e0013275. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0013275. eCollection 2025 Aug.
Infection of the brain with the larval stage of Taenia solium leads to neurocysticercosis (NCC), a leading cause of epilepsy with a considerable global burden. Neurocysticercosis-induced epilepsy is among the poverty-related diseases and is prevalent, particularly in regions where T. solium is endemic. In Tanzania, NCC-associated epilepsy is endemic, it causes substantial health burdens and economic losses. Studies on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding NCC in the country are limited.
A cross-sectional healthcare professional-based study was conducted in northern Tanzania between May and July 2023. A structured questionnaire was administered to healthcare workers (HCWs) using a random stratified sampling to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward prevention and control of NCC-induced epilepsy. One-way ANOVA was used to compare mean scores of KAP, Chi-square test to assess the association between independent factors and KAP scores, and logistic regression model to determine the predictors of KAP scores.
A total of 250 HCWs were interviewed. The study revealed that HCWs had inadequate overall knowledge (scores = 55.5%), negative attitudes (score = 54.0%) and poor practices (scores = 49.3%). Only 22.4% had adequate knowledge, 10.8% had positive attitudes, and 12.8% had good practices towards control of NCC-induced epilepsy. Educational levels of respondents (OR: 3.361, 95% CI: 1.147-9.848, p < 0.01) were significant predictors of positive attitudes. Laboratory technologists were five (OR:5.821, 95% CI: 2.033-16.664, p < 0.01) times more likely to be knowledgeable, followed by assistant physicians (OR:3.141, 95% CI:1.484-6.650, p < 0.01) compared to other health professionals interviewed. Knowledgeable respondents were more likely to have positive attitudes (OR: 6.087, 95% CI:2.534-14.622, p < 0.01), and better practices (OR: 4.750, 95% CI: 2.099-10.748, p < 0.01) towards control of NCC-induced epilepsy.
This study found that HCWs had limited knowledge, poor practices, and negative attitudes toward the control of NCC-induced epilepsy. There is an urgent need to promote better knowledge of acquired epilepsy among HCWs, including re-training using the One Health approach in T. solium endemic areas.
猪带绦虫幼虫感染脑部会导致神经囊尾蚴病（NCC），这是癫痫的主要病因之一，在全球造成了相当大的负担。神经囊尾蚴病所致癫痫属于与贫困相关的疾病，普遍存在，尤其是在猪带绦虫流行的地区。在坦桑尼亚，与NCC相关的癫痫呈地方性流行，造成了巨大的健康负担和经济损失。该国关于NCC的知识、态度和行为（KAP）的研究有限。
2023年5月至7月在坦桑尼亚北部开展了一项基于医疗保健专业人员的横断面研究。采用随机分层抽样方法，向医护人员发放结构化问卷，以评估他们对预防和控制NCC所致癫痫的知识、态度和行为。使用单因素方差分析比较KAP的平均得分，采用卡方检验评估独立因素与KAP得分之间的关联，并使用逻辑回归模型确定KAP得分的预测因素。
共采访了250名医护人员。研究表明，医护人员的总体知识不足（得分 = 55.5%）、态度消极（得分 = 54.0%）且行为不佳（得分 = 49.3%）。只有22.4%的人具备足够的知识，10.8%的人态度积极，12.8%的人在控制NCC所致癫痫方面行为良好。受访者的教育水平（OR：3.361，95% CI：1.147 - 9.848，p < 0.01）是积极态度的显著预测因素。与其他受访的卫生专业人员相比，实验室技术人员具备知识的可能性高出五倍（OR：5.821，95% CI：2.033 - 16.664，p < 0.01），其次是助理医师（OR：3.141，95% CI：1.484 - 6.650，p < 0.01）。具备知识的受访者在控制NCC所致癫痫方面更有可能态度积极（OR：6.087，95% CI：2.534 - 14.622，p < 0.01）且行为更好（OR：4.750，95% CI：2.099 - 10.748，p < 0.01）。
本研究发现，医护人员对控制NCC所致癫痫的知识有限、行为不佳且态度消极。迫切需要提高医护人员对后天性癫痫的认识，包括在猪带绦虫流行地区采用“同一健康”方法进行再培训。
