Community Members’ Perception of Epilepsy and their Attitude towards Persons Living with Epilepsy Disorders in a Rural Community of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Aims: Studies on perceptions and attitudes towards people with epilepsy have focused mainly on students/teachers in the south and Northern Nigeria. This study aimed at assessing community members’ perceptions and attitudes towards epilepsy and persons living with epileptsy disorders. Study Design: A cross sectional survey and descriptive design using a convenience sampling technique was used to collect data.

Place and Duration of Study: The study took place in a rural community of Bayelsa State, Nigeria between November 2014 and February 2015.

Methodology: A pre-tested structured face-face questionnaire was administered to 120 community members that were randomly selected from each of the sixteen compounds in the community (72 men, 48 women, age range 18-41 and above).

Results: Majority (50%) has heard about epilepsy, 13.3% know it as a brain disorder, 32.5% say it is hereditary, 46.7% believe epilepsy can be caused by supernatural powers, 55% thinks epilepsy is a highly contagious disease and transferable, 55.8% will not take a person with epilepsy to the hospital during a seizure attack, 73.3% said it is unwise for parents to send children with epilepsy to school for fear of ridicule by schoolmates, 100% will not marry neither allow their children marry any person with epilepsy and 63.3% will not disclose to their children’s spouses before marriage if son/daughter has epilepsy.

Conclusion: Negative perceptions and attitude is strongly upheld in study environment, and may be hindrance to proper treatment and social interactions. Community mobilization campaigns are advocated to improve the quality of life of persons suffering from epilepsy and counteract misconceptions attached to the disorder.