Impact of knowledge, attitudes, and sociocultural factors on school enrollment of children with epilepsy in Gabon

• Published in: Seizure (London, England) Vol. 71; pp. 145 - 150
• Main Authors: Ibinga, Euloge, Druet-Cabanac, Michel, Revegue, Marc Harris Dassi Tchoupa, Engohang-Ndong, Jean, Bisvigou, Ulrick, Ategbo, Simon Jonas, Preux, Pierre-Marie, Ngoungou, Edgard Brice
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Children; Epilepsy; Female; Gabon; Gabon - ethnology; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice - ethnology; Health workers; Humans; Life Sciences; Male; Middle Aged; Santé publique et épidémiologie; School Teachers; Schooling; Schools; Sociocultural; Socioeconomic Factors; Students; Teachers; Gabon; Gabon; Teachers; Epilepsy; Children; Schooling; Health workers; Sociocultural
• ISSN: 1059-1311; 1532-2688; 1532-2688
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2019.07.014

•Teachers and health workers seemed in favor of enrollment of children with epilepsy.•Teachers and health workers would advise education of children with epilepsy in specialized school.•Risk factors and suggestive signs of childhood epilepsy were little known by teachers and health workers.•Beliefs towards epilepsy were not associated with school enrollment of children with epilepsy.•Education level and marital status were predictive of socio-cultural factors of schooling of children with epilepsy. Perceptions, beliefs and culture influence attitude towards epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa. Misconceptions on epilepsy contribute to the persistence of negative attitudes in children with epilepsy particularly on their school enrollment. The aim of the study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and sociocultural factors affecting schooling of children with epilepsy in Gabon. Teachers and health workers from two urban and four rural localities of Gabon were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Overall 1310 subjects filled the survey questionnaire, including 813 teachers and 497 health workers. Knowledge on risk factors and suggestive signs of childhood epilepsy were globally poor. Misconceptions on etiology of epilepsy were significant with contagiousness (27.5%) and demonic possession (16.0%) representing the major prevalent idea about the origin of epilepsy in children. Attitudes of teachers and health workers towards schooling of children with epilepsy were positive (85.0%). However, more than half recommended enrollment of these children in specialized school programs. In multivariate analysis, education level (OR = 1.40; 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.81) and marital status (OR = 1.62; 95% confidence interval 1.18-2.22) were sociocultural factors likely to affect chances of school enrollment of children with epilepsy. Understanding the influence of socio-cultural factors surrounding school enrollment of children with epilepsy could enhance public awareness campaigns about epilepsy and to improve school integration of these children.