Table 2.
showing research studies addressing misconceptions or stigma in SSA.
| Citation, (year) | Study country | Study population (sample) | Study design | Major finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjei. P, et al (27) | Ghana* | Health care workers (N=40) | Cross-sectional study with stigma training among health care providers. | Epilepsy is perceived to be contagious. Also believed to be due to taboos /spiritual supernatural causes and punishments for social wrongs. Hence treatment with traditional medical theory. |
| Tekle-Haimanot. R et al, (2016)(40) | Ethiopia* | High school students from rural and urban schools (N=226) | Cross-sectional study with KAP questionnaire among high school students before and after reading a comic book on epilepsy stigma | Comic book about epilepsy changed misconceptions and provided correct information about epilepsy. |
| Njamnshi. A, et al (2009)(30) | Cameroon | Community door to door survey (N= 164) | Cross-sectional, involving community participants | High levels of awareness following an epilepsy educational and treatment program. Misconceptions occurring with epilepsy reported a form of insanity, contagious and recommend traditional healers. |
| Bain, L.E et al (2013), (29) |
Cameroon | Community survey, (N=520) | Cross-sectional, community survey | Low level of education and bigger family size associated with advocating witchcraft as cause of epilepsy. |
| Bigelow. J et al, (2015)(22) | Uganda | Medical students (N=96) | Cross-sectional, descriptive study | 45% reported that epilepsy is a mental disease. 80% would not allow their children to marry people with epilepsy. |
| Pupillo. E et al, (2013)(11) | Zambia | Community survey (N=231) | Cross-sectional, rural and urban residents | Poor education and rural residency associated with high levels of stigma |
| Mbuba. C. K, et al, (2012)(34) | Kenya | Household community survey, (N=673) | Cross-sectional survey for people with epilepsy | people with epilepsy with negative beliefs were less likely to seek biomedical treatment. |
| Odaga. J. et al, (2008)(35) | Uganda | people with epilepsy records and hospital based study, (N=93) | Retrospective study with a cross-sectional descriptive interview among people with epilepsy | New patients of people with epilepsy who had not experienced any improvement had widespread beliefs that epilepsy was a result of witchcraft/curse and cannot be cured. |
| Carter. J. A et al, (2012)(19) | Kenya | people with epilepsy and caregivers (N=110) | Cross-sectional, mixed methods study involving, people with epilepsy, family members, community health workers and traditional healers. | Misconceptions about epilepsy derived from superstition about its origin and lack of knowledge about causes, treatment and prognosis contributing to treatment gap. |
| Owalabi. L.F, et al, (2014)(26) | Nigeria | High school teachers (N=200) | Cross-sectional study for knowledge and attitudes | There is a low level of knowledge about epilepsy and misconceptions about epilepsy. |
| Komolafe. M.A, et al, (2012)(37) | Nigeria | Community survey among women with epilepsy (N=63) and 69 controls | Cross-sectional survey matched for age, social status and site of care. | Women with epilepsy in Nigeria face multiple social and economic challenges. One third face physical abuse from members of their household with 10% reporting rape. |
| Quereshi. C et al, (2017)(20) | Tanzania | Teachers & parents of people with epilepsy (N=36) | Mixed methods study with cross-sectional and focus group discussion | Barriers to young people with epilepsy’s education included parental stigmatization, teacher’s inadequate seizure management. Teachers believed that parents with young people with epilepsy believe in spiritual etiology and traditional management. |
| Rafael. F et al, (2010) (36) | Benin | Community survey (rural) door to door, (N=80) | Mixed methods study with qualitative and Focus group discussion | High prevalence of stigma in Benin. Social factors (social isolation and marital problems) influence stigma. |
| Ezeala-Adikaibe. B.A et al, (2013)(13) | Nigeria | Urban community dwellers (N=456) | Cross-sectional descriptive study | There is low knowledge among urban dwellers and fraught with misconception and gaps. |
| Njamnshi A.K et al, (2009)(41) | Cameroon | Health workers (student nurses and laboratory assistants) (N=340) | Cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire. | High levels of knowledge but erroneous beliefs due exist. |
| Gebrewold. M.A, et al, (2016)(25) | Ethiopia | Teachers (N=845) | Cross-sectional study using a standardized self-administered questionnaire | High percentage of teachers considered epilepsy a psychiatric illness linked to insanity. Holy water treatment and church healing sessions are remedies. Evil spirit and insanity treatment better by religious methods. |
| Osungbade K.O, et al, (2011)(28) | Nigeria | Rural community survey (N=365) | Cross-sectional study | Epilepsy poorly understood with incorrect local perceptions and cultural beliefs |
| Njamnshi A.K, et al, (2010) (21) | Cameroon | Community survey for traditional healers (N=102) | Cross-sectional descriptive study among traditional healers. | Traditional healers well acquitted with epilepsy still have some negative practices. |
*
-Intervention studies in SSA.