Prevalencia, conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de epilepsia en la parroquia de Quingeo de la provincia del Azuay, Cuenca 2009

Abstract

Objective: To assess knowledge, attitudes and practices and the prevalence of epilepsy in the parish of Quingeo the Canton Cuenca. Methods: We conducted an interview with standardized questions by neurologists to 680 people over 12 years in the month of May 2009. To investigate the selected demographic data we used 4 variables: age, gender, education and marital status. Results: Of the 557 people surveyed, 2.7% were suspected of epilepsy and of these, 1.6% were diagnosed with epilepsy confirmed by a neurologist, of these, 66.6% had tonic-clonic seizures. The most prevalent age was from 21 to 60 years (66.7%); in gender, was female gender (66.7%). According to the level of knowledge, 50.4% had heard or read about the disease, 47.1% know the cause of epilepsy and 71.9% believe that doctors should treat epilepsy. According to the attitudes, 65.3% believe that there are people who discriminate against people with epilepsy. According to the practices of the inhabitants, 58.68% are good, of these, the 66.20% recommended professional help malpractices were 41.32%, of these, 28% reported doing nothing and another 28% perform popular maneuvers.

Keywords: epilepsy, prevalence, knowledge attitudes and practices