title: Illness concept among people with epilepsy and their caregivers and preferred treatment methods in a suburban community in Southeast Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epilepsy, one of the world's most prevalent chronic diseases is still regarded as a supernatural disease in many parts of the world. These superstitious and cultural beliefs tend to influence treatment seeking behavior of people living with epilepsy (PWE) and their caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  People living with epilepsy in a semi-urban community in Southeast Nigeria were identified in a two phase door-to-door cross-sectional descriptive study. Those identified and their caregivers were further interviewed to determine their concepts of the disease, their treatment (actual and preferred) and what informed treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found 29 cases of active epilepsy, 16 (55.2%) males and 13 (44.8%) females. Witchcraft was held as a major cause of epilepsy in the community accounting for 36.2% (n=17) of the responses. The three major treatment modalities used were spiritual (healing churches), traditional (herbal medicines) and orthodox treatment with antiepileptic drugs. Spiritual treatment was the preferred treatment modality, though most (89.7%) have used traditional (herbal medicine) treatment at one point in the course of the disease. Beliefs on epilepsy and information on the disease obtained mostly from non-medical sources informed treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The epileptic population studied preferred spiritual treatment though use of traditional treatment was also common. Treatment seeking behavior was greatly influenced by their beliefs and information on the disease obtained mainly from non-medical sources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 5025, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Nwani
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Arinzechi
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Asomugha
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Enwereji
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nwosu
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ogunniyi
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D009549:Nigeria; D013383:Suburban Population; D013483:Superstitions
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants