[The therapeutic itinerapy of epileptics admitted by the Electoencephalographic Laboratory at CHU Dakar].
In Senegal, as in other under developed countries, the delays before seeking medical treatment are long varying from 2 to 12 according to studies. This is related to the fact that in traditional African communities, prejudices and believes delayed medical management which is seeked after failure of traditionnal treatments. The objectives of this study concerning therapeutic itinerary of epileptics in the EEG laboratory at the Neurology Department at CHU in Dakar were to evaluate the average latency of medical consultation and to identify the recourse path by patients receiving antiepileptic treatment. We conducted from March to may 2001, a cross disciplinary study, with a sample size of 212 patients. 79.2% of patients were less than 30 years old. They first seek treatment in hospitals in 36.8%, traditional practionners in 35.8%, health centers in 23%, and private clinics in 4%. The average delay of treatment in modern structures was by 13.4 +/- 4.7 months. The towards the healers was linked to faulty beliefs in 61.8% of the cases, lack of information (22.4%), or a lack of financial means (2.6%). The patients were refeared to traditional healers in 6.7% of the cases for reasons of confidence in traditional medecine. The orientation to neurology clinic was recommended by health personal in 83% of the cases, family (14.6%), or the healer (1.4%). The long and difficult journey of epileptics in Senegal remains marked by exclusion, absence or delay of medical attention.
Sene
Diouf F
DF
Service de Neurologie, CHU Fann Dakar , Sénégal. kinsene@hotmail.com
Diop
T
T
Toure
K
K
Ndiaye
M
M
Gueye
L
L
Diopa
G
G
Ndiaye
M M
MM
Ndiaye
I P
IP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012675:Senegal; D016896:Treatment Outcome