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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Knowledge, attitudes and practices with respect to epilepsy among student nurses and laboratory assistants in the South West Region of Cameroon
Epilepsy and Behavior, Volume 17, No. 3, Year 2010
Notification
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Description
Objective: This study was designed as part of a series of studies mandated by the Cameroon Ministry of Public Health (National Epilepsy Control Program) to obtain new data for improvement of the epilepsy teaching program in schools training health personnel in the South West Region of Cameroon. Method: A 12-item semistructured questionnaire was self-administered to 340 student nurses and laboratory assistants in five training schools for health personnel in the South West Region of Cameroon. Results: All of them had heard about epilepsy, 86.5% knew someone with epilepsy, 88.5% had witnessed a seizure, but only 48.8% had read about epilepsy. About 33% and 52% would, respectively, object to their children associating with and marrying people with epilepsy (PWE). About 15.3% believed that epilepsy is a form of insanity, 10% thought epilepsy is contagious, 67.4% (P < 0.001) would recommend medical treatment for epilepsy, 22% would offer prayers only, and 6% would recommend traditional medicine. Independent predictors of attitudes were: acquaintance with someone with epilepsy, knowledge of the cause of epilepsy, the belief that epilepsy is contagious or is a form of insanity, being male, and being in the first year of studies. Conclusion: The knowledge level in this student sample is high, but the relatively low proportion of respondents who have read about epilepsy suggests that the observed high level of awareness of epilepsy may be from knowledge gained in the community; thus, there exist knowledge gaps. Therefore, a teaching course on epilepsy needs to be introduced into the curriculum of these training schools as early as the first year of studies. The course content must take into account the belief and value systems of the community and address misconceptions about epilepsy. © 2010 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
Tabah, Earnest Njih
Cameroon, Yaounde
Central Hospital of Yaounde Fmbs
Cameroon, Yaounde
Ministry of Public Health Cameroon
Bissek, Anne Cécile Zoung Kanyi
Cameroon, Yaounde
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Yepnjio, Faustin Njionda
Cameroon, Yaounde
Central Hospital of Yaounde Fmbs
Senegal, Dakar
Fann University Teaching Hospital
Angwafor, Samuel A.
Cameroon, Yaounde
Central Hospital of Yaounde Fmbs
Cameroon, Region
Batibo District Hospital
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
Tatah, Godwin Y.
Cameroon, Yaounde
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Njih, Irine N.
Cameroon, Shisong
Midwifery and Laboratory Technology Shisong
Njamnshi, Vera L.
Cameroon, Belo
Mbingo Baptist Hospital
Angwafo, Fru Fobuzshi
Cameroon, Region
Batibo District Hospital
Cameroon, Yaounde
Ministry of Public Health Cameroon
Cameroon, Yaounde
Fmbs-uyi
Muna, Walinjom Fombad T.
Cameroon, Yaounde
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Statistics
Citations: 53
Authors: 12
Affiliations: 9
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.yebeh.2009.12.027
e-ISSN:
15255069
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Maternal And Child Health
Study Locations
Cameroon
Participants Gender
Male