Community Knowledge, Self-Reported Prevalence, and Management of Epilepsy in Lira District: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by spontaneous, recurrent seizures affecting over 70 million individuals worldwide, irrespective of age, gender, or location. The burden is poorly documented in rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. People with epilepsy face social stigma, discrimination, and overall productivity losses. This study investigated self-reported prevalence, community knowledge, and the management approaches of epilepsy in Lira district, Uganda.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional community -based study was conducted across the ten sub-counties of Lira District, employing random sampling among 400 adults, one per household. Data were collected using a pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire translated into the local language (Leb Lango). Data was analyzed using SPSS v26, employing descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and presented in form of tables and figures.

RESULTS

The majority (81%) of the 400 participants described epilepsy as a disease of sudden falling. 51.7% attributed it to severe malaria, and overthinking. While 54.8% reported having a close family member with epilepsy, the self-reported prevalence of the actual cases of epilepsy observed during the study was 25/400 (6.25%). Study participants reported symptoms such as black outs and sudden falls (91.8%) as well as convulsions (86.3%). Epilepsy onset was predominantly reported in childhood (42.5%). Most attacks occurred at no specific time (40.5%) or during moonrise/moonset (32.5%). 75% of respondents reported warning signs including dizziness (78.3%), palpitations (72.5%), and blurred vision (64.5%). Approximately 35% of families sought help from a hospital or herbalist, and 80% reported no improvement.

CONCLUSION

This study documents a high self-reported prevalence and poor community management for epilepsy in Lira district. Community-based self-reports, rather than clinically verified findings, highlight the need for validated community screening programs, training of community health workers, strengthening of referral pathways, and supporting clinically validated prevalence studies.