title: Investigating epilepsy in Africa: 10 years of data collection using a standardized questionnaire in 2,269 peoples with epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The need for comparable epidemiologic data on epilepsy from various locations in tropical areas has led in 1994 to the creation of a questionnaire able to standardize information. The Limoges' questionnaire was created to collect information independently of the objectives of each survey performed, and since it has been employed in various continents under tropics latitude. In Africa between 1994 and 2004, 13 epidemiologic surveys in 12 countries were performed by this means. Authors of these works were solicited to communicate their raw data on people with epilepsy (PWE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Information collected was aggregated in a database upon which operations of data management were processed. Undernutrition status was determined using an anthropologic method, according World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. Factors associated with undernutrition and absence of treatment by phenobarbitone were searched for by using multivariate logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Information about 2,269 PWE was collected. Mean treatment gap and undernutrition were determined, respectively, to be 30.6% [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 28.7-32.6] and 25.4% (95% CI 22.7-28.2). Factors significantly associated with undernutrition and not being treated with phenobarbitone were determined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the different purposes of each study, we were able to pool information in order to characterize and study particular traits of PWE in Africa. Some items of particular importance should be collected systematically and will be highlighted in a newer version of this questionnaire. Because many surveys were undertaken using this tool in tropical areas, a backward compatibility should be ensured.
authors: University of Limoges, IFR 145 GEIST, Institute of NeuroEpidemiology and Tropical Neurology, EA 3174 Tropical and Compared NeuroEpidemiology, Limoges, France.
authors: Fabrice
authors: F
authors: Quet
authors: Florentina
authors: F
authors: Rafael
authors: Edgard B
authors: EB
authors: Ngoungou
authors: Mouhamadou
authors: M
authors: Diagana
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Druet-Cabanac
authors: Pierre M
authors: PM
authors: Preux
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants