Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards epilepsy in morocco: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundThis study aims to assess knowledge, practices and attitudes of the general Moroccan population towards epilepsy and to highlight predictive factors. MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted in the Casablanca-Settat Moroccan region. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data and item answers from 400 people with epilepsy (PWE) and without epilepsy caregivers on dependent variables: knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards epilepsy. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 21.0. Statistical significance was set when P value < 0.05. ResultsThe rates of poor knowledge, practices, and attitudes toward epilepsy were 11.5 %, 41 %, and 66.6 %, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the risk of having poor knowledge about epilepsy was favored by lack of education (ORa = 4.31;CI95%:1.83–10.13;p = 0.001) and the absence of familiarity with epilepsy (ORa = 4.05;CI95%:1.92–8.54;p < 0.001). The risk of preferring allopathic practices to treat epilepsy was associated with lack of education (ORa = 2.21;CI95%:1.01–4.82;p = 0.046), residence in a city outside Casablanca (ORa = 2.33;CI95%:1.06–5.15;p = 0.035), age over 59 years (ORa = 2.50;CI95%:1.26–4.95; p = 0.008), residence in a rural areas (ORa = 4.41;CI95%:2.61–7.47;p < 0.001) and absence of familiarity with epilepsy (ORa = 4.08;CI95%:2.33–7.15;p < 0.001). Predictors of stigma towards epilepsy were female sex (ORa = 3.05;CI95%:2.04–4.56;p < 0.001) and the tendency to abandon anti-seizure medication for allopathic alternatives (ORa = 3.98;CI95%:2.21–7.17;p < 0.001), whereas advanced age was a protective factor (ORa = 0.57;CI95%:0.36–0.89;p = 0.014[39–59 years vs 18–29 years];ORa = 0.44;CI95%:0.23–0.82;p = 0.011[>59 years vs 18–29 years]). ConclusionsThe rate of poor attitudes and treatment-seeking behavior was high. This socio-cultural context certainly impacts the quality of life and care of Moroccan PWE. These results should be considered to raise awareness in the Moroccan population.