Knowledge, attitudes and practices with respect to epilepsy among student nurses and laboratory assistants in the South West Region of Cameroon.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed as part of a series of studies mandated by the Cameroon Ministry of Public Health (National Epilepsy Control Program) to obtain new data for improvement of the epilepsy teaching program in schools training health personnel in the South West Region of Cameroon.


METHODS
A 12-item semistructured questionnaire was self-administered to 340 student nurses and laboratory assistants in five training schools for health personnel in the South West Region of Cameroon.


RESULTS
All of them had heard about epilepsy, 86.5% knew someone with epilepsy, 88.5% had witnessed a seizure, but only 48.8% had read about epilepsy. About 33% and 52% would, respectively, object to their children associating with and marrying people with epilepsy (PWE). About 15.3% believed that epilepsy is a form of insanity, 10% thought epilepsy is contagious, 67.4% (P<0.001) would recommend medical treatment for epilepsy, 22% would offer prayers only, and 6% would recommend traditional medicine. Independent predictors of attitudes were: acquaintance with someone with epilepsy, knowledge of the cause of epilepsy, the belief that epilepsy is contagious or is a form of insanity, being male, and being in the first year of studies.


CONCLUSIONS
The knowledge level in this student sample is high, but the relatively low proportion of respondents who have read about epilepsy suggests that the observed high level of awareness of epilepsy may be from knowledge gained in the community; thus, there exist knowledge gaps. Therefore, a teaching course on epilepsy needs to be introduced into the curriculum of these training schools as early as the first year of studies. The course content must take into account the belief and value systems of the community and address misconceptions about epilepsy.
Neurology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon. aknjamnshi@yahoo.co.uk
Alfred K
AK
Njamnshi
Earnest N
EN
Tabah
Anne-Cécile Zoung-Kanyi
AC
Bissek
Faustin N
FN
Yepnjio
Samuel A
SA
Angwafor
Fidèle
F
Dema
Julius Y
JY
Fonsah
Godwin
G
Tatah
Irine N
IN
Njih
Vera L
VL
Njamnshi
Fru F
FF
Angwafo
Walinjom F T
WF
Muna
D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult