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Review
. 2015 Jul 8;7(1):789.
doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v7i1.789.

A review of 'medical' knowledge of epilepsy amongst isiZulu-speaking patients at a regional hospital in KwaZulu-Natal

Zamir A Gilani, Kantharuben Naidoo  1 , Andrew Ross
Affiliations
Review

A review of 'medical' knowledge of epilepsy amongst isiZulu-speaking patients at a regional hospital in KwaZulu-Natal

Zamir A Gilani et al. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. .

Abstract
in English, French

Background: Epilepsy is a common disorder in South Africa and the literature indicates that many patients do not access treatment. The reasons are complex and include a poor knowledge about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment (medical knowledge). This study aimed to assess the medical knowledge of isiZulu-speaking people with epilepsy (PWE) who attend a combination regional and district hospital in the eThekwini district in KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Method: This was a prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study. Data were collected using a validated data collection tool for assessing the medical knowledge of PWE and analysed descriptively.

Results: The questionnaires were completed by 199 PWE, with the general level of schooling being low and half being unemployed. Knowledge around causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatments was good, but there were significant gaps in knowledge that may affect morbidity and mortality.

Discussion: The findings will serve as a useful guide to develop both preventive and educational interventions to enhance knowledge around the causes and treatment of epilepsy in this population. It is important that such interventions also consider family and healthcare providers.

Conclusion: There were considerable gaps in the medical knowledge of isiZulu-speaking PWE's, indicating the need for an educational intervention to improve their understanding of epilepsy. Further research is needed-using a range of tools to ensure that the data is reliable and valid-if the results are to be generalisable to the rest of the province and South Africa.

Examen des connaissances ‘médicales’ sur l’épilepsie chez les patients de langue zouloue d’un hôpital régional au KwaZulu-Natal.

Contexte: L’épilepsie est un trouble courant en Afrique du Sud et la littérature montre que de nombreux patients n’ont pas accès aux traitements. Les raisons en sont complexes et comprennent une mauvaise connaissance des causes, symptômes, diagnostics et traitements (connaissances médicales). Cette étude avait pour but d’évaluer les connaissances médicales des personnes de langue zouloue atteintes d’épilepsie (PAE) qui fréquentent à la fois les hôpitaux régionaux et de district dans la région d’eThekwini dans la Province du KwaZulu-Natal.

Méthode: C’est une étude prospective, descriptive et transversale. Les données ont été collectées au moyen d’un outil de récolte des données validé pour évaluer les connaissances médicales des PAE, puis analysées de façon descriptive.

Résultats: Les questionnaires ont été remplis par 199 PAE, avec un faible niveau de scolarisation et dont la moitié était au chômage. Les connaissances sur les causes, les symptômes, le diagnostic et les traitements étaient bonnes, mais il y avait des lacunes importantes sur les connaissances affectant la morbidité et la mortalité.

Discussion: Les résultats serviront de guide utile pour mettre au point des interventions à la fois préventives et éducatives afin d’améliorer les connaissances des causes et le traitement de l’épilepsie dans cette population. Il est important que ces interventions examinent aussi la famille et les prestataires de soins de santé.

Conclusion: Il y a des lacunes considérables dans les connaissances médicales des PAE de langue Zouloue, ce qui indique un besoin en matière d’intervention éducative pour améliorer leur compréhension de l’épilepsie. Il faudra pousser les recherches– au moyen de toutes sortes d’outils pour s’assurer que les données sont fiables et valides − si l’on veut généraliser les résultats dans le reste de la province et en Afrique du Sud.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Percentage of patients and duration of epilepsy (years).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Comparison of current study with 2003 European study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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