[Knowledge of epilepsy and practices of parents in Mali: a community study]

The prevalence of epilepsy in Sub-Saharan Africa is about 15 per thousand; against 6 to 8 per thousand in industrialized countries. Health, social, economic conditions and misknowledge could explain this situation. The objective of this survey was to study the knowledge of parents of children with or without epilepsy about this disease in Mali. 423 adults were interviewed, 15% children with epilepsy. The mean age was 34 ± 9,3 years; females represents 60% of the population. 26% of interviewed subjects heard about epilepsy from their neighbourhood, 20% from traditional healers, 11% from health care professional; the tonic-clonic crisis was the most known form of the disease. 59% thought epilepsy to be contagious. The organicity of the disease was known by 51% of the population. 23 % of the population believed there was a link between the onset of the crisis and the presence of the hole moon. 78% of subjects have already seen at least one crisis of epilepsy, but only 33% have got an attitude of first help that was to pour fresh water on the face of the patient in 22% of cases. 57% of subject's acknowledge having as first recourse traditional medicine. The fight against epilepsy in Mali as in the others countries of the third world should go through information and education of the population, in particular parents.