COMMUNITY ATTITUDE TOWARDS EPILEPSY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN SOUTH ACHEFER WOREDA,WEST GOJJAM ZONE, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Sociocultural attitudes continued to cause a negative impact on the management of epilepsy in many African nations. Stigma and discrimination against people with epilepsy coupled with negative social attitudes towards epilepsy were found to be more devastating and harmful than the disease itself. This is largely attributed to misconceptions about the disease with fear and fright of public on confronting an epileptic seizure. Objective: To assess community’s attitude and associated factors towards epilepsy in south Achefer woreda, west Gojjam, North west Ethiopia 2020. Methods: community-based cross- sectional study supplemented with qualitative method was conducted from March 1-30, 2020 in south Achefer woreda. Systematic sampling technique was used to select a total of 762 individuals. A structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Logistic regression analysis was performed and P < 0.05 with 95% confidence interval was considered to measure statistically significant variables. For the qualitative study participants were selected purposively. FGD, KII and IDI were conducted until it reaches the point of saturation. Thematic analysis was done by using an open code software version 4.2. Results: A total of 753 respondents participated giving response rate 98.8%. Among those 60.8% Conclusion: The attitude of the community towards epilepsy is high as compared to the other studies done in Ethiopia. Information about epilepsy, witnessing seizure, and knowledge about epilepsy showed significant association with attitude. Key words: attitude, Ethiopia, epilepsy