title: Knowledge of, perceptions of, and attitudes toward epilepsy among university students in Kuwait.
abstract: The aim of this study was to explore, using a self-administered questionnaire, university students' knowledge of, perceptions of, and attitudes toward epilepsy. Approximately 1.7% considered epilepsy a contagious disease, and 10.5%, a form of insanity. About 25 and 34% of students thought that epilepsy is caused by an evil spirit and the evil eye, respectively, and 17.4% thought epilepsy is punishment from God. About 8% believed patients with epilepsy should not marry, and 12.5% thought they should not have children. Similarly, 11.7% thought patients with epilepsy cannot think or judge like people without epilepsy, and 26.2% would not employ someone with epilepsy in a clerical job. Approximately 56% objected to marrying someone with epilepsy, and 12.5% would not allow their child to play with a child with epilepsy. In conclusion, university students in Kuwait have a vague knowledge of the causes of epilepsy. Misconceptions about and negative attitudes toward epilepsy are unexpectedly high among these university students.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Hessa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Rashed
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Al-Yahya
authors.forename: Ameena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Kandari
authors.forename: Ala'a
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shehab
authors.forename: Reem
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al-Sabah
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Taiar
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult