Prevalence, incidence, and clinical characteristics of epilepsy--a community-based door-to-door study in northern Tanzania.
OBJECTIVE
The main aim of this door-to-door-study was to determine the prevalence, incidence, and clinical characteristics of epilepsy in northern Tanzania.


METHODS
A total of 7,399 people were screened with a standardized questionnaire using "multistage random sampling."


RESULTS
The prevalence rate of epilepsy was 11.2/1,000 [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.9-13.9/1,000] and the age-adjusted prevalence rate was 13.2/1,000. The prevalence of active epilepsy was 8.7/1,000 (95% CI 6.7-11/1,000). There was a preponderance of women. The average retrospective incidence including the last 5 years was 81.1/100,000 (95% CI 65-101/100,000). Fifty-four percent (45 of 83) of the people with epilepsy had generalized seizures without any identifiable cause; 71% (59 of 83) of the epilepsy patients had not visited health institutions prior to the study and 76% (63 of 83) had never received treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy in northern Tanzania are higher compared to developed countries and that the majority of people with epilepsy do not access treatment.
Winkler
Andrea S
AS
Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Care and Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. drawinkler@yahoo.com.au
Kerschbaumsteiner
Kerstin
K
Stelzhammer
Brigitte
B
Meindl
Michael
M
Kaaya
John
J
Schmutzhard
Erich
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology