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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
A comprehensive community epilepsy programme: the Nakuru project
Epilepsy Research, Volume 8, No. 3, Year 1991
Notification
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Description
The methodology of a programme of investigation of epilepsy carried out at a community health level in Nakuru district, Kenya, East Africa, and the characteristics of patients with tonic-clonic epilepsy in this community, are presented. The study identified a group of 302 patients with untreated generalised tonic-clonic seizures (with or without other seizure types) from the general population. Case finding was carried out using the key informant method over a 12-month period. The clinical characteristics of this cohort of patients, the majority of whom had never had previous contact with a formal medical system, is described. Most were young, living in a rural area, with a mean age of seizure onset of 14 years and a mean duration of seizures of 7 years. Thirty-eight per cent had a clinically evident focal disturbance associated with the tonic-clonic seizures. In 77% of the cases, no aetiology was established. Most cases had had a substantial number of seizures during the course of their condition and only about a third of the patients had less than 1 seizure a month in the previous year. Only 26% had ever had previous anti-epileptic drug treatment. In addition to the medical inquiry, psychological and sociological studies were also conducted and a prospective treatment programme was carried out. Throughout the study, strict definitions and standardised instruments were used, and the study was the result of a collaboration between local investigators, an international neurological team, the Kenyan Government agencies and the pharmaceutical industry. We consider this a model for community-based investigations for the management of epilepsy in developing countries. © 1991.
Authors & Co-Authors
Feksi, A. T.
Kenya, Kakamega
Provincial General Hospital
Kaamugisha, J.
Kenya, Kakamega
Provincial General Hospital
Gatiti, S.
Kenya, Nairobi
Kenya Medical Research Institute
Sander, Josemir W.
United Kingdom, London
Ucl Queen Square Institute of Neurology
Shorvon, Simon D.
United Kingdom, Gerrards Cross
Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy
Statistics
Citations: 33
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/0920-1211(91)90072-N
ISSN:
09201211
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Locations
Multi-countries
Kenya