Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38538925›Full record

ArticleNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2024

Gaps in treatment of epileptic seizures in a Zambian rural area.

Richard Mambo, Andrew M Phiri, Chiara Trevisan, Gideon Zulu, Chishimba M Mubanga, Chembensofu Mwelwa, Isaac K Phiri, Veronika Schmidt, Pascal Magnussen, Pierre Dorny and 3 more

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Article in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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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

13 authors.

Richard MamboDepartment of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O BOX 32379, Lusaka, Zambia. richardmambo2@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-5716-7775
Andrew M PhiriDepartment of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O BOX 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Chiara TrevisanDepartment of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Gideon ZuluDepartment of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O BOX 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Chishimba M MubangaDepartment of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O BOX 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Chembensofu MwelwaDepartment of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O BOX 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Isaac K PhiriDepartment of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O BOX 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Veronika SchmidtDepartment of Neurology, Center for Global Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Pascal MagnussenDepartment of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Pierre DornyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
Sarah GabriëlDepartment of Translational Physiology, Infectiology, and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Andrea S WinklerDepartment of Neurology, Center for Global Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
Kabemba E MwapeDepartment of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O BOX 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.

Funding

Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung 01KA1617European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership DRIA2014-308 SOLID
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEpilepsy is a multifactorial neurological disorder, including parasitic infections of the brain such as neurocysticercosis (NCC). People with epileptic seizures (PWES) in low and middle-income countries often do not receive appropriate treatment, which besides epileptic seizures, may also lead to reduced quality of life and possibly death. The objective of this study was to describe gaps in treatment of epileptic seizures in a Zambian rural area.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Sinda district of Zambia between August and October 2018. PWES identified from clinic records and with the help of community healthcare workers were recruited. Two questionnaires, one to PWES and the other to local healthcare workers, were administered to describe the treatment gap.

resultsA total of 146 PWES and 43 healthcare workers were interviewed. Of the 146 PWES, 131 had taken anti-seizure medication (ASM) at some point since their seizure onset, of which 49.6% were on current treatment. Only 18.3% were on continuous ASM, an overall treatment gap of 83.6%. Over 55% of healthcare workers did not know the relationship between epilepsy and NCC. The risk factors associated with lack of appropriate treatment were stock-outs of ASMs, lack of diagnostic equipment, poor patient follow-up, and PWES opting for traditional medicine.

conclusionThe treatment gap is substantial in Sinda district. The causes are multifactorial, involving shortcomings at the level of healthcare facilities, communities, and individuals. Directed training of healthcare workers and significant improvements in the supply and dispensing of ASMs will be key in substantially reducing the gap.

Indexed as

AnticonvulsantsEpilepsyRural PopulationAdolescentAdultChildCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth PersonnelHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeurocysticercosisSeizuresYoung AdultZambiaAnticonvulsantsAdherenceAnti-seizure medicationsEpilepsyNeurocysticercosisPeople with epileptic seizuresTreatment gap

Identifiers

PMID38538925
PMCPMC11306258

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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.