Table 3.
Community1 beliefs regarding epilepsy
| Number | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| Epilepsy is contagious and can be transmitted through bodily fluids | 54 | 41 |
| Modes of transmission described: sexual contact, kissing, sharing food, and through contact with sweat, blood, or saliva produced during a seizure | ||
| Epilepsy is caused by brain injury | 120 | 91 |
| Epilepsy is caused by sorcellerie or witchcraft | 27 | 21 |
| Epilepsy is caused by djina or diable | 111 | 84 |
| Modes of transmission described: sexual contact, bathing or contact with water, walking in the forest during the new moon, meeting the devil in the road or on the beach | ||
| Epilepsy is caused by stress, anxiety, or strong emotions | 8 | 6 |
| Epilepsy is hereditary | 41 | 31 |
| Epilepsy is caused by ingestion | 10 | 8 |
| Vectors of transmission described: wine, peanuts, lamb or mutton, and salt | ||
| Epilepsy is caused by problems during delivery | 21 | 16 |
| Epilepsy is caused by contact with animals | 6 | 5 |
| Vectors of transmission described: bird droppings, saliva or blood from a dead goat, cats | ||
| Epilepsy is caused by malaria and other infections | 32 | 24 |
| Epilepsy in children is caused by exposures in utero | 13 | 10 |
| Risk factors described: too much salt consumed during pregnancy, contact between the foot of a pregnant woman with bird droppings, meeting a djina during pregnancy, experiencing anger or stress during pregnancy, seeing a particular animal during pregnancy, passing under a cursed tree during pregnancy | ||
| Epilepsy can be cured | 110 | 83 |
1
Participants were queried on beliefs held by members of their community in addition to their own beiiets regarding epilepsy. This technique has been previously described in the literature (27) and was used to characterize the spectrum of beliefs that PWE are exposed to, as well as to facilitate discussion of beliefs that participants might otherwise have been reluctant to share.