title: Epilepsy-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Zambian police officers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Zambia, where emergency medical services are very limited, the police are frequently called to the scene for unaccompanied people experiencing seizures or exhibiting disturbed behaviors during a seizure. Police officers receive no formal medical training to manage such encounters. We developed and administered a police-specific survey to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding epilepsy among police officers in Zambia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2004, a 28-item KAP questionnaire that included queries specific to police encounters with seizures and epilepsy was developed and delivered to a random sample of 200 police officers stationed in Lusaka. Descriptive data were reviewed and open text questions postcoded and categorized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 87.5% (n=175). Police were familiar with epilepsy, with 85% having witnessed a seizure. Although 77.1% recognized epilepsy as a brain disorder, almost 20% blamed spirit possession, 13.9% associated epilepsy with witchcraft, and more than half the respondents believed epilepsy is contagious. When asked how they would treat someone brought in for disturbing the peace during a seizure, most police provided supportive or neutral responses, but 8% reported taking harmful actions (arrest, detain, handcuff, restrain), and 14.3% indicated that people with epilepsy in police custody require quarantine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant number of police officers in Zambia lack critical knowledge regarding epilepsy and self-report detrimental actions toward people with seizures. In regions of the developing world where the police provide emergency medical services, police officers need to be a target for educational and social intervention programs.
authors.affiliation: Chainama Hills College Hospital, PO Box 30043, Lusaka, Zambia. embewe2001@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mbewe
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haworth
authors.forename: Masharip
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atadzhanov
authors.forename: Elwyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chomba
authors.forename: Gretchen L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Birbeck
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D019359:Knowledge; D016495:Police / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology