title: Prevalence case-control study of epilepsy in three Burkina Faso villages.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the association between the prevalence of epilepsy and potential risk factors in three Burkina Faso villages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three villages were selected based on local reports of high numbers of epilepsy cases and pig-rearing practices. One person aged 7 or older was selected at random from all households of selected concessions for epilepsy screening and blood sampling. Epilepsy was confirmed by a physician using the ILAE definition. The cross-sectional associations between epilepsy and selected factors and seroresponse to the antigens of Taenia solium were estimated using a Bayesian hierarchical logistic regression. Prevalence odds ratios (POR) and their 95% Bayesian Credible Intervals (95% BCI) were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 888 individuals interviewed, 39 of 70 screened positive were confirmed to have epilepsy for a lifetime prevalence of 4.5% (95% CI: 3.3; 6.0). The prevalence of epilepsy was associated with a positive reaction to cysticercosis Ag-ELISA serology (POR = 3.1, 95% BCI = 1.0; 8.3), past pork consumption (POR = 9.7, 95% BCI = 2.5; 37.9), and being salaried or a trader compared to a farmer or housewife (POR = 2.9, 95% BCI = 1.2; 6.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several factors were associated with prevalent epilepsy, with Ag-ELISA suggesting the presence of neurocysticercosis. The association between epilepsy and some occupations may reflect differences in local attitudes toward epilepsy and should be further explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nitiéma
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Carabin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hounton
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Praet
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ganaba
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kompaoré
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tarnagda
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dorny
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Millogo
authors.lastname: Efécab
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002050:Burkina Faso / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012698:Serologic Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens