Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42380981›Full record

ArticleActa epileptologica2026

Prevalence and factors associated with intellectual impairment in children with epilepsy in two national referral hospitals in Uganda.

Anita Arinda, Molly McVoy, Joan Abaatyo, Mark Kaddumukasa, Martha Sajatovic, Elly Katabira

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Acta epileptologica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Anita ArindaDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, 10022, Uganda. arindaanita@yahoo.com.
Molly McVoyDepartment of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Joan AbaatyoDepartment of Psychiatry, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, 10023, Uganda.
Mark KaddumukasaDepartment of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, 10022, Uganda.
Martha SajatovicNeurological and Behavioral Outcomes Center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center & Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Elly KatabiraDepartment of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, 10022, Uganda.

Funding

Research training and mentorship to strengthen brain health across the lifespan in Uganda.D43NS118560 · NINDS · MAKERERE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES · PI KADDUMUKASA, MARK, KATABIRA, ELLY T · 2020 to 2024
$1.1M
NINDS NIH HHS D43 NS118560NINDS NIH HHS D43NS118560
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEpilepsy is a common neurological condition in children and is often associated with intellectual impairment. However, there is limited information on the intellectual impairment among children with epilepsy in Uganda. This study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of intellectual impairment among children and adolescents with epilepsy attending two national referral hospitals in Uganda.

methodsThis cross-sectional study included children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years who had a diagnosis of epilepsy. Intellectual functioning was assessed using the Raven's Progressive Matrices. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine demographic and clinical factors associated with intellectual impairment.

resultsOf 386 participants, 34.7% had intellectual impairment. Older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 6.94, P = 0.001), being in a special needs school (aOR = 14.50, P = 0.016), not being in school (aOR = 26.01, P < 0.001), delayed speech (aOR = 3.26, P = 0.030), and anti-seizure medication polypharmacy (aOR = 3.08, P = 0.020) were positively associated with intellectual impairment, while adolescent-onset epilepsy (aOR = 0.05, P = 0.030) was negatively associated.

conclusionsIntellectual impairment is common among Ugandan children and adolescents with epilepsy and is associated with older age, school non-attendance, special-needs school placement, delayed speech, and anti-seizure medication polypharmacy. These findings underscore the need for routine assessment of intellectual functioning and targeted interventions, including academic support, speech therapy, and optimization of treatment regimens.

Indexed as

AdolescentsChildrenEpilepsyIntellectual impairmentUganda

Identifiers

PMID42380981
PMCPMC13321425

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.