Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38475724›Full record

SynthesisBMC public health2024

Prevalence, incidence, and trends of epilepsy among children and adolescents in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Gebeyaw Biset, Nigusie Abebaw, Natnael Atnafu Gebeyehu, Natan Estifanos, Endalk Birrie, Kirubel Dagnaw Tegegne

Registry-linked trialOpen access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06634901 (The Impact of Health Literacy Education on Knowledge, Treatment Adherence and Stigma Among Adolescents With Epilepsy), which is not on this map. Cited by 33 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
33citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
18.5field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06634901 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

The Impact of Health Literacy Education on Knowledge, Treatment Adherence and Stigma Among Adolescents With Epilepsy

TypeinterventionalSponsorDuke UniversityRan2026 to 2027Enrolled60ConditionsEpilepsyArmsHealth Literacy Educational Session- Comparator, Health Literacy Educational Session
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

33 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 48 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Gebeyaw BisetDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, P.O.BOX: 1145, Ethiopia. gebeyawbiset@yahoo.com.
Nigusie AbebawDepartment of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Natnael Atnafu GebeyehuSchool of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia.
Natan EstifanosDepartment of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Endalk BirrieDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, P.O.BOX: 1145, Ethiopia.
Kirubel Dagnaw TegegneDepartment of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Wollo University · ETWolaita Sodo University · ET

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEpilepsy contributes to a significant disease burden in children and adolescents worldwide. The incidence of childhood epilepsy is threefold higher in low and middle income countries compared in high-income countries. Epilepsy is a serious neurological condition associated with stigma and discrimination, an impaired quality of life, and other mental health related problems.

objectiveThis study is aimed to synthesize existing evidence and estimate the pooled prevalence and incidence of epilepsy in children and adolescents in Africa.

methodsA comprehensive and systematic search of relevant databases was conducted. The quality of each study was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale adapted for meta-analysis. Two reviewers screened retrieved articles, conducted critical appraisals, and extracted the data. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed by visual inspection of forest plots and statistically using Cochran's Q statistics and the I

resultIn this review and meta-analysis 42 studies with 56 findings were included to compute the pooled prevalence of childhood epilepsy. On the other hand, 6 studies were included to estimate the combined incidence. The pooled prevalence of cumulative epilepsy was 17.3 per 1000 children. Whereas the pooled prevalence of active and lifetime epilepsy was 6.8 and 18.6 per 1000 children respectively. The pooled incidence of childhood epilepsy was 2.5 per 1000 children.

conclusionNearly 1 in 50 children are suffering from epilepsy in Africa. However, little attention has been paid to the prevention and treatment of childhood epilepsy. Mass epilepsy screening, scaling up treatment coverage, and designing strict treatment follow up and monitoring mechanisms are recommended.

Indexed as

EpilepsyAdolescentAfricaChildChild, PreschoolHumansIncidencePrevalenceAfricaChildren and adolescentsEpilepsyPrevalence

Identifiers

PMID38475724
PMCPMC10935902
OpenAlexW4394758133

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.