Prevalence of the major neurological disorders in a semi-urban community in northern Benin

BACKGROUND: Neurological disorders are some of the most disabling diseases. Epidemiological data on their incidence in Benin are scarce. OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of major neurological diseases among people older than 15 years was investigated in Titirou. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study and door-to-door survey which took place from June 10 to August 30, 2014, in the district of Titirou and included 1094 persons. The diagnosis of migraine, tension-type headaches, epilepsy, peripheral neuropathies, stroke, parkinsonism, Parkinson's disease and dementia were conducted using a validated screening questionnaire, neurological examination and standard diagnostics criteria. RESULTS: They were aged from 16 to 85 with a mean age of 29.8 +/− 12.9 years. Forty five percent (492/1094) were males. Among the 1094 respondents, 497 (45.4% 95%CI 42.5–48.4) had at least one neurological disorder. The raw prevalences of the conditions were: tension-type headaches (26.9%), migraine (14.3%); peripheral neuropathies (5.6%); epilepsy (1.9%); stroke (1.3%), parkinsonism (0.1%). No case of dementia or Parkinson's disease was found. Socio-demographic factors associated with these conditions were as follows: tension-type headaches: age (p = .020); peripheral neuropathies: age (p = 0. 000); sex (p = .006); profession (p = .004); marital status (p = .032); and level of education (p = .003); stroke: age (p = .000) and marital status (p = .000). CONCLUSION: These results point to a high prevalence of neurological disorders in Titirou