Abstracts

Rationale: In Cameroon epilepsy is a major public health problem with some epileptic foci having pravalence rates among the highest in the world. Our aim was to obtain baseline data for the development of an epilepsy education programme in Cameroon within the framework of the National Epilepsy Control Programme. Methods: We used a 12-item questionnaire in English to interview 910 randomly selected students from three secondary schools in the rural Batibo Health District, a suspected epiletic focus. Results: Ninety-five percent (95%) of the students had heard or read about epilepsy, 73.3% knew an epileptic while 76.4% had witnessed a seizure. Those who would offer equal employment opportunities to people with epilepsy (PWE), refuse to associate with them or refuse to marry them represented 58.6%, 25.4% and 64.2% respectively. Negative attitudes appeared to be reinforced by beliefs that epilepsy is hereditary (25.7%), contagious (49.9%) or a kind of insanity (38%). Acquaintance with PWE tended to improve the misconception that epilepsy is contagious (p <0.001), and appeared to reinforce the view that it is a form of insanity (p<0.01). Conclusions: There is a high level of awareness on epilepsy among secondary school students in the Batibo Health District. Yet, there is a high level of stigma and discrimination against PWE. This appears to be associated with traditional beliefs. For a successful epilepsy education programme, local cultural beliefs have to be considered seriously and educated secondary school students may constitute a good channel for general community education.