Epilepsy is a leading serious neurological condition worldwide and has particularly significant physical, economic and social consequences in Sub–Saharan Africa. This paper aims to contribute

to the understanding of epilepsy prevalence in this region and how this varies by age and sex so as to inform understanding of the disease characteristics as well as the development of infrastructure,

services and policies

Adeloye, Davies

Chan, Kit Yee

George-Carey, Rhiannon

Grant, Elizabeth

Kolčić, Ivana

Paul, Abigail

Journal of Global Health

English

PubMed

Abigail Paul

Davies Adeloye

Rhiannon George-Carey

Ivana Kolcić

Liz Grant

Kit Yee Chan

Directory of Open Access Journals

An estimate of the prevalence of epilepsy in Sub–Saharan Africa: A systematic analysis

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a leading serious neurological condition worldwide and has particularly significant physical, economic and social consequences in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of epilepsy prevalence in this region and how this varies by age and sex so as to inform understanding of the disease characteristics as well as the development of infrastructure, services and policies. METHODS: A parallel systematic analysis of Medline, Embase and Global Health returned 32 studies that satisfied pre-defined quality criteria. Relevant data was extracted, tabulated and analyzed. We modelled the available information and used the UN population figures for Africa to determine the age-specific and overall burden of epilepsy. RESULTS: Active epilepsy was estimated to affect 4.4 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, whilst lifetime epilepsy was estimated to affect 5.4 million. The prevalence of active epilepsy peaks in the 20-29 age group at 11.5/1000 and again in the 40-49 age group at 8.2/1000. The lowest prevalence value of 3.1/1000 is seen in the 60+ age group. This binomial pattern is also seen in both men and women, with the second peak more pronounced in women at 14.6/1000. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of epilepsy, especially in young adults, has important consequences for both the workforce and community structures. An estimation of disease burden would be a beneficial outcome of further research, as would research into appropriate methods of improving health care for and tackling discrimination against people with epilepsy

Paul, A

Adeloye, D

George-Carey, R

Kolčić, I

Grant, L

Chan, KY

University of Melbourne Institutional Repository

An estimate of the prevalence of epilepsy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a leading serious neurological condition worldwide and has particularly significant physical, economic and social consequences in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of epilepsy prevalence in this region and how this varies by age and sex so as to inform understanding of the disease characteristics as well as the development of infrastructure, services and policies. METHODS: A parallel systematic analysis of Medline, Embase and Global Health returned 32 studies that satisfied pre-defined quality criteria. Relevant data was extracted, tabulated and analyzed. We modelled the available information and used the UN population figures for Africa to determine the age-specific and overall burden of epilepsy.RESULTS: Active epilepsy was estimated to affect 4.4 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, whilst lifetime epilepsy was estimated to affect 5.4 million. The prevalence of active epilepsy peaks in the 20-29 age group at 11.5/1000 and again in the 40-49 age group at 8.2/1000. The lowest prevalence value of 3.1/1000 is seen in the 60+ age group. This binomial pattern is also seen in both men and women, with the second peak more pronounced in women at 14.6/1000.CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of epilepsy, especially in young adults, has important consequences for both the workforce and community structures. An estimation of disease burden would be a beneficial outcome of further research, as would research into appropriate methods of improving health care for and tackling discrimination against people with epilepsy

Edinburgh Research Explorer

An estimate of the prevalence of epilepsy in Sub-Saharan Africa:A systematic analysis

Ivana Kolčić

Crossref

Background Epilepsy is a leading serious neurological condition

worldwide and has particularly significant physical, economic and

social consequences in Sub–Saharan Africa. This paper aims to contribute

to the understanding of epilepsy prevalence in this region and

how this varies by age and sex so as to inform understanding of the

disease characteristics as well as the development of infrastructure,

services and policies.

Methods A parallel systematic search of Medline, Embase and Global

Health returned 32 studies that satisfied pre–defined quality criteria.

Relevant data was extracted, tabulated and analyzed. We modelled

the available information and used the UN population figures

for Africa to determine the age–specific and overall burden of epilepsy.

Results Active epilepsy was estimated to affect 4.4 million people in

Sub–Saharan Africa, whilst lifetime epilepsy was estimated to affect

5.4 million. The prevalence of active epilepsy peaks in the 20–29 age

group at 11.5/1000 and again in the 40–49 age group at 8.2/1000.

The lowest prevalence value of 3.1/1000 is seen in the 60+ age group.

This binomial pattern is also seen in both men and women, with the

second peak more pronounced in women at 14.6/1000.

Conclusion The high prevalence of epilepsy, especially in young

adults, has important consequences for both the workforce and community

structures. An estimation of disease burden would be a beneficial

outcome of further research, as would research into appropriate

methods of improving health care for and tackling discrimination

against people with epileps

Paul, Abigai

Kolcˇic, Ivana

Grant, Liz

Covenant University Repository

An estimate of the prevalence of epilepsy in

Sub–Saharan Africa: A systematic analysis

An estimate of the prevalence of epilepsy in Sub-Saharan Africa:A systematic analysis

Abstract

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Directory of Open Access Journals

University of Melbourne Institutional Repository

Edinburgh Research Explorer

Crossref

Covenant University Repository