Assesing knowledge attitude and practice of community health workers towards epilpsy and people living with epilepsy comparing trained and non- trained populations in Rwanda: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUNG Epilepsy as a non- communicable disease is more prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa where 80 % of 70 million of affected people are found. Recent publications show high treatment gap of up to 78% and stigma rated at 70 % in some communities. Though over time we have seen documented evidence of how community health workers have been partners in decreasing maternal and infant mortality rates case of Rwanda. Could training of community health work in epilepsy replicate the success seen in other domain of infant and maternal mortality? Method: With the Use of validated questionnaire containing questions regarding knowledge, perception, and attitude of community health workers towards epilepsy and people living with epilepsy. The researcher took a cohort of 103 non trained and 96 trained community health workers asked them to answer the questionnaire individually. Results: It was clear both groups had basic baseline knowledge about epilepsy, there was less stigma in the trained group p value < 0.001 .the trained group was most likely to refer epileptic patient to a health facility p value < 0.05. Surprisingly the non-trained group were mentioning more signs of epilepsy than the trained group, whether this was a confounder or not could be re -tested. Conclusion: It is clear the trained group has less stigma more likely to refer epilepsy patient to a health facility.