title: Knowledge, attitude, and practice of people toward epilepsy in a South Indian village.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People living with epilepsy continue to suffer from enacted or perceived stigma that is based on myths, misconceptions, and misunderstandings that have persisted for many years. In the last decade, there has been an increase in individual literacy rate and increased access to technology in rural population. However, it is unclear if this has any effect on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) attitude toward epilepsy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our primary aim is to evaluate KAP toward epilepsy. In addition, we also estimated the prevalence of stroke and epilepsy in rural South India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a 14-item questionnaire, we assessed KAP toward epilepsy and identified determinants of inappropriate attitudes toward people with epilepsy and 10-item questionnaires to assess the prevalence of epilepsy and stroke among 500 randomly selected populations in a Pattaravakkam village (Tamil Nadu, India).
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 87.7% of the people had heard or read about epilepsy. Negative attitudes appeared to be reinforced by beliefs that epilepsy is hereditary (23.1%), kind of insanity (22.6%), or as contagious (12.0%). The knowledge about the clinical characteristics and first aid to a person during a seizure was 25.8%. About 36.5% of people think that society discriminates people with epilepsy. Moreover, our prevalence study showed that 8.7% people are suffering from epilepsy and 3.7% had stroke previously and at the day of survey, the stroke prevalence is 3.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even with increased literacy, technology, and communication devices, the KAP of people toward epilepsy is relatively low. General public education campaigns and specific school education campaigns children should be encouraged to increase the KAP toward epilepsy. The prevalence and pattern of epilepsy and stroke is on the higher side in the village of Pattaravakkam. Future research regarding the value of targeted education in improving KAP will be worthwhile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Balaji
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krishnaiah
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Seenivasan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Alwar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Lakshmi N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Ranganathan
keywords: Epilepsy; attitude and practice; knowledge; social stigma