# Prior Knowledge of Epilepsy Predicts Positive Attitudes and Practices Toward Persons Living With Epilepsy

## TL;DR

This study shows that having prior knowledge about epilepsy leads to more positive attitudes and better treatment of people living with epilepsy in Ghana.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that prior knowledge significantly predicts positive attitudes and practices toward people with epilepsy.

## Key findings

- Most participants were aware of epilepsy, but many had poor knowledge and misconceptions.
- Prior knowledge significantly predicted positive attitudes and practices toward people living with epilepsy.
- Educational interventions are needed to correct misconceptions and improve knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

## Abstract

Epilepsy‐associated misconceptions may put persons living with epilepsy (PLWE) at risk of developing psychological disorders, resulting in a decrease in social contact.

Understanding knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) about epilepsy is essential in developing strategies to dispel these epilepsy‐associated myths and misconceptions.

This cross‐sectional study assessed the KAP relating to epilepsy among undergraduate university students and traders in Ghana using a structured questionnaire.

Of the 532 participants surveyed, the majority were aware of epilepsy (95.3%), although 65.8% had poor/inadequate knowledge. Misconceptions were evident, as 25.9% of the participants reported that epilepsy is due to ancestral sin. Regarding attitudes toward epilepsy, 27.6% were positive, but 84.2% acknowledged societal discrimination against PLWE. A third of the participants exhibited good/appropriate practices toward PLWE. The Mann–Whitney U test showed a significant difference between males and females on the possession of adequate knowledge about epilepsy (male = 282.75 and female = 251.43, p = 0.018, n = 532) as well as practices toward PLWE (male = 287.34 and female = 247.17, p = 0.002, n = 532). Also, knowledge about epilepsy (χ
2 = 20.324, p = 0.018) and attitude toward PLWE (χ
2 = 11.880, p = 0.036) vary by age group, as shown by the Kruskal–Wallis test. Prior knowledge about epilepsy significantly predicted positive attitudes [AOR: 95% CI (2.794, 10.938), p = 0.000] and practices [AOR: 95% CI (0.675, 9.137), p = 0.003] toward PLWE.

Overall, there is the need for targeted educational interventions to correct misconceptions and improve KAP about epilepsy.

1.Possessing adequate knowledge about epilepsy could make people treat and act well towards those living with epilepsy.
2.To reduce and eliminate stigmatization against PLWE, mass media awareness campaign about epilepsy on both traditional and social media as well as community‐level information centres should be undertaken.

Possessing adequate knowledge about epilepsy could make people treat and act well towards those living with epilepsy.

To reduce and eliminate stigmatization against PLWE, mass media awareness campaign about epilepsy on both traditional and social media as well as community‐level information centres should be undertaken.