Table 2. Studies of the prevalence of epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa.
| Year | N | Prevalence, per 1000 (95% CI) | Sex ratio (M/F) | Proportion aged <20 years | Method | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Africa | |||||||
| Benin38 | 2012 | 13046 | 8·0 (6·59–9·74) | 0·7 | 18·1% | DTD | Rural |
| Benin40 | 2007 | 1232 | 10·6 (5·9–18·5) | NA | NA | CS | Urban |
| Benin (Cotonou)37 | 2003 | 1400 | 7·9 (4·5–14·5) | 1·6 | 82·0% | CS | Urban |
| Benin (Dangbo)53 | 2007 | 737 | 31·0 (18·4–43·5) | 0·8 | 45·7% | CS | Rural |
| Benin (Zinvie)46 | 2000 | 3134 | 15·9 (22·3–44·3) | 0·8 | 52·4% | DTD | Rural |
| Burkina Faso25 | 1993 | 16627 | 10·6 (9·1–12·2) | 1·7 | 76·2% | CS | Rural |
| Burkina Faso56 | 2012 | 888 | 45·0 (33·0–60·0) | NA | NA | CS | Rural |
| The Gambia30 | 2002 | 16200 | 4·9 (4·5–5·3) | NA | NA | DTD | Rural |
| Ghana (Kintampo)15 | 2013 | 129812 | 4·9 (4·4–5·3) | 0·8 | NA | DTD | Rural |
| Côte d’lvoire36 | 1988 | 1176 | 7·6 (2·6–12·6) | 0·7 | 88·8% | CS | Rural |
| Côte d’lvoire58 | 1995 | 920 | 59·0 (43·7–74·2) | 1·4 | 36·4% | CS | Rural |
| Côte d’lvoire36 | 1990 | 309 | 74·4 (43·0–104·9) | 0·5 | 91·3% | CS | Rural |
| Liberia51 | 1983 | 4436 | 28·0 (23·1–32·8) | 1·1 | NA | CS | Rural |
| Mali43 | 2000 | 5243 | 13·3 (10·5–16·7) | 0·1 | NA | DTD | Rural |
| Nigeria32 | 1989 | 2925 | 6·2 (3·4–9·0) | 0·1 | 61·5% | CS | Rural |
| Nigeria (Aiyété)55 | 1982 | 903 | 37·0 (24·7–49·3) | 0·6 | NA | CS | Rural |
| Nigeria (Igbo-Ora)31* | 1987 | 18954 | 5·3 (4·2–6·3) | 0·9 | NA | CS | Urban |
| Senegal39 | 1986 | 7682 | 8·3 (6·2–10·4) | NA | 65·6% | CS | Rural |
| Senegal44 | 2005 | 4500 | 14·2 (10·7–17·7) | NA | 39·1% | CS | Urban |
| Togo (Kozah)47 | 1989 | 5264 | 16·7 (13·2–20·2) | 1·6 | NA | CS | Rural |
| Togo (Tone)49* | 2000 | 9155 | 18·6 (15·8–21·3) | 0·9 | NA | DTD | Rural |
| Togo (Batamariba)45* | 2007 | 6249 | 15·7 (12·7–19·2) | 1·4 | 29·6% | CS | Rural |
| East Africa | |||||||
| Ethiopia52* | 2006 | 1154 | 29·5 (19·7–39·3) | 1·1 | 57·0% | DTD | Rural |
| Kenya29 | 1994 | 7450 | 4·0 (2·6–5·4) | 0·8 | 50·6% | DTD | Rural |
| Kenya48 | 1988 | 2960 | 18·2 (13·3–23·0) | NA | NA | DTD | Rural |
| Kenya (Kilifi)27 | 2008 | 10218 | 41·0 (31·0–51·0) | 1·0 | NA | CS | Rural |
| Kenya (Kilifi)15 | 2013 | 233881 | 3·8 (3·5–4·0) | 1·0 | NA | DTD | Rural |
| Kenya62 | 2008 | 151408 | 2·9 (2·6–3·2) | 1·0 | 44·2% | DTD | Rural |
| Tanzania24 | 2009 | 7399 | 13·2 (11·9–14·5) | 1·0 | 59·1% | CS | Rural |
| Tanzania63 | 2012 | 38523 | 2·9 (2·4–3·5) | 1·0 | 23·9% | CS | Rural |
| Tanzania (Hai)64 | 2012 | 104889 | 2·9 (2·5–3·2) | 1·0 | NA | CS | Rural |
| Tanzania (Ifakara)15 | 2013 | 104889 | 7·2 (6·5–7·8) | 1·4 | NA | CS | Rural |
| Tanzania35* | 2005 | 4905 | 7·4 (5·0–9·8) | 0·8 | NA | DTD | Rural |
| Tanzania23* | 1992 | 18183 | 12·1 (10·5–13·7) | 0·9 | 60·8% | CS | Rural |
| Uganda42 | 1996 | 4743 | 13·0 (9·7–16·2) | NA | NA | DTD | Rural |
| Uganda65 | 2010 | 440 | 2·0 (1·94–2·20) | 1·0 | 100% | DTD | Rural |
| Uganda (Igangamayuge)15 | 2013 | 69186 | 5·0 (4·4–5·6) | 1·8 | NA | CS | Rural |
| Central Africa | |||||||
| Cameroon54 | 2007 | 1898 | 35·4 (27·4–43·4) | 1·2 | 89·2% | DTD | Rural |
| Cameroon (Kéleng)61 | 2008 | 181 | 134·5 (90·0–178·0) | 1·2 | NA | DTD | Rural |
| Cameroon (Bilomo)57 | 2000 | 1900 | 58·4 (47·8–69·0) | 0·9 | NA | CS | Rural |
| Cameroon59 | 1989 | 500 | 70·0 (47·6–92·3) | NA | NA | CS | Rural |
| Southern Africa | |||||||
| Madagascar50* | 2004 | 925 | 23·5 (11·6–30·0) | 0·5 | NA | DTD | Urban |
| Rwanda33 | 2008 | 6757 | 7·0 (5·0–9·0) | 0-8 | NA | CS | Rural/urban |
| South Africa34 | 2000 | 6692 | 7·3 (5·3–9·3) | NA | NA | CS | Rural |
| South Africa (Agincourt)15 | 2013 | 82818 | 3·4 (3·0–3·8) | 1·0 | NA | DTD | Rural |
| Zambia41 | 2004 | 55000 | 12·5 (11·6–13·4) | 1·3 | 70·9% | DTD | Rural |
DTD=door-to-door. CS=cross-sectional. NA=not available.
*
Active epilepsy.