title: Stereotypes on Nodding syndrome: responses of health workers in the affected region of northern Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nodding Syndrome is a debilitating disorder of yet unknown etiology that has affected children and adolescents aged 3 - 18 years in parts of sub Saharan African countries including Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Liberia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify stereotypes and negative attitudes held by primary care health workers about nodding syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of one hundred health workers invited by the Uganda Ministry of Health for training on nodding syndrome from the three most affected districts of Pader, Lamwo and Kitgum forty were interviewed using a predesigned tool. Content and thematic analysis was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 22 females. The median age was 33 years (range 23-54 years). The participants included Psychiatric Clinical Officers, Medical Clinical Officers, Laboratory Technicians, Midwives, Registered and Enrolled Nurses. Overall, four broad categories of negative stereotypes were identified; Nodding syndrome is 1) an incurable disease, 2) is associated with evil spirits and curses, 3) is disabling, making the patient a burden to society and 4) is a fatal illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary health care workers who lead the care of patients with nodding syndrome have several negative stereotypes that may potentially impact negatively on the quality of care they provide.
authors.affiliation: Butabika National Mental Referral Hospital, Kampala - Uganda.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mutamba
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Kampala - Uganda.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abbo
authors.affiliation: Butabika National Mental Referral Hospital, Kampala - Uganda.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muron
authors.affiliation: Mulago National Referral hospital and College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Kampala - Uganda ; Oxford University, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Clinical Research, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Idro
authors.affiliation: Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Kampala - Uganda.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mwaka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064128:Nodding Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications; D013240:Stereotyping; D014454:Uganda
keywords: Stereotypes; nodding syndrome; northern Uganda