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Document Type

Original Article

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and Objective: Epilepsy is a treatable chronic neurological illness that is frequently associated with supernatural activity. The objectives of this study were to determine common myths and misperception about epilepsy by analysing a comprehensive panel of variables in our local population. Methods: We conducted a face-to-face questionnaire interview survey in three different shopping malls. One thousand people were randomly enrolled in this cross-sectional study at Quetta, Baluchistan, during the period of 21 august 2021 to 30 august 2021.

Results: A total of 1000 people were interviewed; among them 220(22%) were male and 780(78%) were female. Individuals between the age of 20 years and above were included in the study. Nine-hundred-eighty (98%) respondents had heard about epilepsy. Out of thousand people 419 (41.9%) thought that epilepsy was a brain disease, 488 (48.8%) responded that it was a ghost attack. Twenty-three (2.3%) believed it to be psychosis. The aspects of knowledge tested were on causes, types, and management of epilepsy. Forty-nine (4.9%) people believed that epilepsy was due to head trauma, 488 (48.8%) said it’s ghost attack, 67 (6.7%) said it’s because of evil eye, and 293 (29.3%) peoples believed that epilepsy was caused by black magic. Nine-hundred-twenty-eight (92.8%) people believed that home remedies such as sniffing shoes were effective in epilepsy.

Conclusion: This study revealed a lack of awareness about epilepsy in Balochistan, as well as the prevalence of both negative and favourable attitudes about epilepsy. This result was much surprising because in this era of modern medicine and technology, still superstitious beliefs prevail among large population. The study also emphasized to increase public awareness and epilepsy education initiatives to change public opinions and promote the use of standard epileptic treatment.

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