What is the community’s knowledge and understanding regarding epilepsy? Epilepsy knowledge and its determinants among residents of Debub Bench District, Bench Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia, 2019: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: Epilepsy is a neurological condition marked by recurring seizures. People with epilepsy, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries, are stigmatised due to a lack of understanding and a negative attitude towards the disease. Increased public awareness of epilepsy will aid in the search for therapy and the quality of life of the patients. The study aimed to assess knowledge about epilepsy and the associated factors among residents of Debub Bench District, Bench Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia in 2020. SETTING: This community-based, cross-sectional study triangulated with qualitative method was conducted from 25 April 2020 to 20 May 2020. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 601 participants. A structured and interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were entered in EpiData Manager V.4.0.2.101 and exported to SPSS V.23 for analyses. Multivariable logistic regression was carried out to identify the factors associated with knowledge of epilepsy. A p value of <0.05 was taken to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 601 respondents participated, of whom 340 (56.6%) were male. The mean age of the respondents was 34.84±11.42 years. The proportion with good knowledge of epilepsy was 55.1%. Factors associated with good knowledge of epilepsy were attending primary education (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.06, 95% CI 1.27 to 3.34), secondary education (AOR=5.01, 95% CI 2.62 to 9.58), above secondary education (AOR=5.67, 95% CI 2.35 to 13.69), being in high wealth index (AOR=1.74, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.78), being a government employee (AOR=3.69, 95% CI 1.39 to 9.83), being a merchant (AOR=3.16, 95% CI 1.80 to 5.54) and being an urban resident (AOR=2.15, 95% CI 1.36 to 3.42). CONCLUSION: Only 55% of the residents have sufficient knowledge about epilepsy. Factors associated with knowledge of epilepsy were educational status, wealth index, occupation and residence.