ABSTRACT
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are one of the most common structural malformations in human kind. It is a public health problem with great impact on the child, parents and the community at large. The aim is to study the epidemiological profile and patterns of NTDs in under five-year of age Sudanese children who attended the neurosurgical clinic at the National Centre of Neurological Sciences (NCNS), Khartoum during the period from March 2014 to December 2014. This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted at the neurosurgery clinic in NCNS, Khartoum. A pre-set structured questionnaire was the research tool. All children under five-year of age with NTDs, who attended the Neurosurgery clinic in NCNS during the period of the study, were recruited. The data were analyzed using statistical package of social sciences (SPSS). The sample size was 71. The majority of cases were less than 6 months of age (57.7%). The female to male ratio was (1.2:1). Spinal defects were noticed to be more common than cranial defects. The spina bifida was the commonest anomaly accounting for (73.2%), whereas, encephaloceles accounted for (26.8%). The lumbo-sacral region was the commonest site (34.6%). Hydrocephalus was the most commonly associated anomaly. NTDs were common in the young mother age group and consanguine parents. Although folic acid was taken by (69.0%) of the mothers, it was not on regular bases in the majority. Infection, particularly, malaria, during pregnancy was reported in 25.4%. Anti-malaria Sulfadoxine/Pyremethamine (Fansidar®) used by most in our cohort is an anti-folate drug and could be implicated in the etiology.
ABSTRACT
This cross sectional hospital based study, carried out simultaneously in Khartoum and in Wad Madani, Al Gezira State, aimed to study the impact of spiritual beliefs on explanation of the epilepsy etiology and the choices and methods of spiritual and traditional medicine used in the management of epilepsy in Sudan. The study included 180 care givers of whom 165 (91.7%) were mothers. Their ages ranged between 30-40 years. The majority (88.8%) were educated and 60 (33.3%) of them live in rural areas. Fifty eight (32.2%) attributed epilepsy to supernatural causes while 41 (22.8%) and 90 (50%) thought that epilepsy is an untreatable and contagious disorder, respectively. Traditional and spiritual medicine for the treatment of epilepsy was used by 70.5%. The common spiritual technique used was incantations (45.6%), spitting cure (37.2%) and ritual incensing (36.7%). Herbs, black cumin (Nigella sativa), honey and olive oil were mentioned among others as a traditional treatment for epilepsy. About two fifth (42.5%) started traditional or spiritual treatment before seeking any medical advice. Nevertheless, only 2.4% stopped the medical treatment as advised by the traditional healer. Fifty five (43.3%) thought that spiritual and/ or traditional treatment were effective in the management of epilepsy, 60(47.2%) found no difference while 12(9.45) got worse. The majority of patients with epilepsy, although on medical treatment, used traditional and spiritual methods as well. Traditional and spiritual healers may be involved positively in the management of epilepsy and extensive public educational programs are needed.
