ArticleEpilepsy research2014
Prevalence and risk factors for active convulsive epilepsy in rural northeast South Africa.
Article in Epilepsy research, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
24 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 44 citations in OpenAlex.
- Comorbidities of epilepsy in low and middle-income countries: systematic review and meta-analysis.Scientific reports · 2020Pooled it
- The primary prevention of epilepsy: A report of the Prevention Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy.Epilepsia · 2018Pooled it
- Testosterone and Androgen Receptor in Cancers with Significant Sex Dimorphism in Incidence Rates and Survival.Cancers · 2025Review
- Experience of the new seizure diary in the Free State and Northern Cape.South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care · 2023Article
- Prevalence of Epilepsy, Human Cysticercosis, and Porcine Cysticercosis in Western Kenya.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2022Article
- Level of Acceptance of Illness and Its Association with Quality of Life among Patients with Epilepsy in North Shewa, Ethiopia.Behavioural neurology · 2022Article
- Community health workers to improve adherence to anti-seizure medication in rural South Africa: Is it cost-effective?Epilepsia · 2021Article
- Community Attitude Towards Epilepsy Patients and Associated Factors in South Achefer District, Northwest Ethiopia: A Mixed-Methods Study.Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment · 2021Article
- Clinical characteristics of epilepsy in resource-limited communities in Punjab, Northwest India.Epilepsia open · 2020Article
- Article
- Clinical Application of Epilepsy Genetics in Africa: Is Now the Time?Frontiers in neurology · 2018Article
- Prevalence, risk factors, and neurobehavioral comorbidities of epilepsy in Kenyan children.Epilepsia open · 2017Article
- The 'experimental public' in longitudinal health research: views of local leaders and service providers in rural South Africa.Global health research and policy · 2017Article
- Burden of neurodevelopmental disorders in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Wellcome open research · 2017Article
- Health care utilization and outpatient, out-of-pocket costs for active convulsive epilepsy in rural northeastern South Africa: a cross-sectional Survey.BMC health services research · 2016Article
- Community perspectives on HIV, violence and health surveillance in rural South Africa: a participatory pilot study.Journal of global health · 2016Article
- "The others look at you as if you are a grave": a qualitative study of subjective experiences of patients with epilepsy regarding their treatment and care in Cape Town, South Africa.BMC international health and human rights · 2016Article
- Medicine possession ratio as proxy for adherence to antiepileptic drugs: prevalence, associations, and cost implications.Patient preference and adherence · 2016Article
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Authors and funding
11 authors at 5 institutions in 6 countries.
Funding
Abstract
rationaleEpilepsy is among the most common neurological disorders worldwide. However, there are few large, population-based studies of the prevalence and risk factors for epilepsy in southern Africa.
methodsFrom August 2008 to February 2009, as part of a multi-site study, we undertook a three-stage, population-based study, embedded within the Agincourt health and socio-demographic surveillance system, to estimate the prevalence and identify risk factors of active convulsive epilepsy (ACE) in a rural South African population.
resultsThe crude prevalence of ACE, after adjusting for non-response and the sensitivity of the screening method, was 7.0/1,000 individuals (95% CI 6.4-7.6) with significant geographic heterogeneity across the study area. Being male (OR=2.3; 95% CI 1.6-3.2), family history of seizures (OR=4.0; 95% CI 2.0-8.1), a sibling with seizures (OR=7.0; 95% CI 1.6-31.7), problems after delivery (OR=5.9; 95% CI 1.2-24.6), and history of snoring (OR=6.5; 95% CI 4.5-9.5) were significantly associated with ACE. For children, their mother's exposure to some formal schooling was protective (OR=0.30; 95% CI 0.11-0.84) after controlling for age and sex. Human immunodeficiency virus was not found to be associated with ACE.
conclusionsACE is less frequent in this part of rural South Africa than other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Improving obstetric services could prevent epilepsy. The relationship between snoring and ACE requires further investigation, as does the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to examine the increased risk in those with a family history of epilepsy.
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