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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
A community survey of knowledge, perceptions, and practice with respect to epilepsy among traditional healers in the Batibo Health District, Cameroon
Epilepsy and Behavior, Volume 17, No. 1, Year 2010
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Description
Objective: The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the approach of traditional healers to epilepsy care, in order to develop a community-based epilepsy care program in Batibo Health District. Methods: With an 18-item questionnaire, interviews were carried out with 102 traditional healers randomly selected from two associations of traditional healers in the Batibo Health District. Results: Most traditional healers had heard about epilepsy (98.0%), knew someone with epilepsy (97.8%), or had witnessed a seizure (92.2%). About 40% would object to their children associating with people with epilepsy (PWE), 46.1% would object to their children marrying PWE, and 51% linked the disease to insanity. Though 61.8% of the traditional healers could not offer any treatment for epilepsy, most of them thought it was treatable (74.5%) and would readily refer a patient to the hospital (95.1%). The independent predictors of attitudes were: middle age (30-49 years), P = 0.00003; female gender, P = 0.007; correct knowledge of the cause(s) of epilepsy, P = 0.001; and the misconceptions that epilepsy is contagious and that epilepsy is a form of insanity, P = 0.003 and 0.019, respectively. Conclusion: Traditional healers constituted the focus group studied so far in Cameroon that is most familiar with epilepsy. Although they still have some negative practices, the attitudes of traditional healers toward PWE in Batibo Health District are satisfactory, compared with those of the general public and students in the same community. These findings provide evidence for the first time in Cameroon suggesting that collaboration between the modern and traditional health systems with the view of bridging the epilepsy treatment gap is possible. There is a need to train traditional healers in epilepsy care in our context. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Njamnshi, Alfred Kongnyu
Cameroon, Yaounde
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Cameroon, Yaounde
Central Hospital of Yaounde Fmbs
Bissek, Anne Cécile Zoung Kanyi
Cameroon, Yaounde
Université de Yaoundé I
Yepnjio, Faustin Njionda
Cameroon, Yaounde
Central Hospital of Yaounde Fmbs
Senegal, Dakar
Fann University Teaching Hospital
Tabah, Earnest Njih
Cameroon, Yaounde
Central Hospital of Yaounde Fmbs
Cameroon, Yaounde
Ministry of Public Health Cameroon
Angwafor, Samuel A.
Cameroon, Yaounde
Central Hospital of Yaounde Fmbs
Cameroon, Region
Batibo District Hospital
Kuate-Tegueu, Callixte
Cameroon, Yaounde
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Déma, Fidèle
Cameroon, Yaounde
Central Hospital of Yaounde Fmbs
Cameroon, Region
Sa'a District Hospital
Fonsah, Julius Yundze
Cameroon, Yaounde
Central Hospital of Yaounde Fmbs
Acho, Alphonse
Cameroon, Yaounde
Central Hospital of Yaounde Fmbs
Kepeden, Marie Noelle Z.K.
Cameroon, Yaounde
Centre Hospitalier D´essos
Azinwi, Yumo H.
Cameroon, Region
Batibo District Hospital
Kuwoh, Pius B.
Cameroon, Region
Batibo District Hospital
Angwafor, Fru Fobuzshi
Cameroon, Yaounde
Université de Yaoundé I
Cameroon, Yaounde
Ministry of Public Health Cameroon
Muna, Walinjom Fombad T.
Cameroon, Yaounde
Université de Yaoundé I
Statistics
Citations: 14
Authors: 14
Affiliations: 8
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.yebeh.2009.10.018
e-ISSN:
15255069
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Qualitative
Quantitative
Study Locations
Cameroon
Participants Gender
Female