Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42400970›Full record

ArticleEpilepsy & behavior : E&B2026

Explanatory models of epilepsy: key deterrents to seeking biomedical care and effective epilepsy management in Uganda.

Mayanja M Kajumba, Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige, Mark Kaddumukasa, Noeline Nakasujja, Juliet Nabwire, Martin N Kaddumukasa, Paula N Njeru, Peruth Ainembabazi, Deborah C Koltai

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In one paragraph

Article in Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

9 authors.

Mayanja M KajumbaDepartment of Mental Health and Community Psychology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Electronic address: mayanja.kajumba@mak.ac.ug.
Angelina Kakooza-MwesigeDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Mulago Hill Road, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Pediatric Neurology Unit, P.O. Box 7051, Kampala, Uganda; AWE Change Project, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Mark KaddumukasaSchool of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Noeline NakasujjaDepartment of Psychiatry, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Juliet NabwireSchool of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Martin N KaddumukasaDepartment of Medicine, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Neurology Unit, Kampala, Uganda.
Paula N NjeruDuke Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Department of Neurosurgery, Box 3807 Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA; Duke Global Health Institute, 310 Trent Dr, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Peruth AinembabaziSchool of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Deborah C KoltaiDuke Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Department of Neurosurgery, Box 3807 Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA; Duke Global Health Institute, 310 Trent Dr, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Durham, NC, USA.

Funding

Epilepsy in Uganda: Clinical characterization and co-morbidities, their relation to stigma among adolescents and impact of a community-based engagement program (AWE Change project)R01HD106277 · NICHD · MAKERERE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES · PI KAKOOZA, ANGELINA MWESIGE · 2021 to 2025
$2.7M
NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD106277
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Sub-Saharan region has one of the largest populations with misconceptions about the etiology, manifestation, and management of epilepsy. Consequently, the majority of people living with epilepsy (PWE) receive unorthodox interventions that contribute to persistent uncontrolled seizures and poor quality of life. This study aimed to explore the prevailing explanatory models of epilepsy and their role in determining health-seeking behavior.

methodsWe utilized a qualitative, phenomenological design, with a sample of 128 participants, comprising of 19 Adolescents with Epilepsy (AWE) and 109 key-informants, including caregivers, healthcare workers, teachers, traditional and faith healers, and community leaders.

resultsBoth PWE and community members held various beliefs about epilepsy, with a predominant pluralistic explanatory model characterized by a combination of biological, social, and supernatural assumptions. There was a high preference for supernatural remedies from traditional and/or faith healers, which seemed to be a major barrier to the uptake and adherence to biomedical care.

conclusionThe prevailing explanatory models might account for the observation that the PWE, including those on anti-seizure medication, often engage in non-allopathic care that can impact reaching or maintaining biomedical treatment. Effective epilepsy management requires a multi-pronged approach involving the utilization of contextually tailored epilepsy literacy programs and collaboration with traditional and faith healers to facilitate linkage to biomedical care.

Indexed as

EpilepsyHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticePatient Acceptance of Health CareAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMaleTraditional Medicine PractitionersUgandaYoung AdultBiomedical CareEpilepsyExplanatory ModelsPluralistic Beliefs

Identifiers

PMID42400970
PMCPMC13507906

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Registered trials

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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.