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. 2016 Feb:35:100-5.
doi: 10.1016/j.seizure.2015.12.010. Epub 2016 Jan 7.

Prevalence of active convulsive epilepsy in an urban slum in Enugu South East Nigeria

Birinus Adikaibe Ezeala-Adikaibe  1 , Casmir Orjioke  2 , Oluchi Ekenze  3 , Uchenna Ijoma  3 , Obinna Onodugo  3 , Orakwue Molokwu  3 , Peter Chime  2 , Nkiru Mbadiwe  3 , Eddy Aneke  2 , Chinwe Onyekonwu  3 , Grace Okudo  2 , Celestine Okwara  3 , Godwin Onyebueke  2 , Ifeoma Ulasi  3
Affiliations

Prevalence of active convulsive epilepsy in an urban slum in Enugu South East Nigeria

Birinus Adikaibe Ezeala-Adikaibe et al. Seizure. 2016 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of active convulsive epilepsy and treatment gap in two Urban slums in Enugu South East Nigeria.

Methods: A 3 phase cross-sectional descriptive study was done to survey individuals ≥ 15 years in 2 slums in Enugu, South East Nigeria.

Results: The prevalence of epilepsy was 6.0 (95% CI: 5.9-6.0) per 1000 (men 4.4/1000, 95% CI: 2.3-6.4, women 7.8/1000, 95% CI: 4.9-10.4), p=0.06. The peak age of active convulsive epilepsy was 40-44 years (11.2 per 1000) with two smaller peaks at 25-29 and ≥ 50 years. The age and sex adjusted prevalence using WHO standard population and 2006 Nigerian census population were 5.9 per 1000 (95% CI: 4.0-7.9) and 5.4 per 1000 (95% CI: 3.4-7.4).

Conclusion: The prevalence of epilepsy is high in urban slums in Enugu. Nationwide studies should be done to find out the true prevalence in the country.

Keywords: Africa; Epilepsy; Nigeria; Prevalence; Urban slum.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

All the authors have no conflicts of interest.

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