Knowledge of medical students about epilepsy: Need for a change.

PURPOSE: Though most doctors in their professional life will provide care for people with epilepsy, many will not get further training in their professional life. There may be other barriers, perceived or not, to providing care to people living with epilepsy by doctors which need to be approached in the medical undergraduate curriculum and medical continuing education. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge gaps of medical students on basic issues regarding epilepsy that could be useful in preparing training material for the students and continuous medical education for doctors working in the community. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out in one of the medical schools in Enugu metropolis. Data collection was done using a semi-structured validated questionnaire. RESULTS: Seizure was regarded as a movement disorder by 10.3% of the students. The rank of causes of epilepsy given by respondents was brain injury (88%), brain tumor (87%) genetics (62.3%), and strokes (55.1%). Significantly more students who did neurology posting correctly answered that stroke is a risk factor (P < 0.001), disagreed that sleep deprivation is a risk factor (P = 0.04), and recognized different seizure types (P < 0.001-0.002). The mean score was 17.8 ± 2.3% (71.2 ± 9.2%); significantly higher in those who did neurology posting. Students scored lowest on questions regarding risk factors and duration of treatment. CONCLUSION: The content of medical curriculum in Africa should emphasize not only the content of lectures on epilepsy but also the need for students to go through neurology posting during their training. The outcome would be both better knowledge and improved physician-patient relations.

Population-based prevalence of high blood pressure among adults in an urban slum in Enugu, South East Nigeria.

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), rapid urbanization and changing lifestyle have modified the profile and pattern of various medical disorders. Apart from high prevalence rates, recent trends with regard to hypertension in Africa include: low levels of awareness, treatment and control. Although a large number of studies provide data about hypertension in SSA, few studies focused on special populations such as urban slum dwellers. The WHO STEP-wise approach to surveillance of noncommunicable diseases was used to access the prevalence of hypertension among adults in one of the urban slums in Enugu. Out of the 811 individuals aged 20 years and above surveyed, 774 (95.4%) cases were analyzed. About 4.7% and 2.7% reported a past history of diabetes and stroke, respectively, whereas 15% had a positive family history of hypertension. The mean (95% confidence interval (CI)) body mass index (BMI) was 23.7 (23.2-24.2) kg m(-2) among males and 26.6 (25.7-26.7) kg m(-2) among females (P<0.0001). The prevalence of hypertension was 52.5% (95% CI: 48.9-56.0) and 55.4% (95% CI: 49.5-61.3) in males and 50.8% (95% CI: 46.4-55.1) in females (P=0.23). It increased with age peaking at 45-54 years in females and ⩾55 years in males. About 40.1% were aware of their hypertension and 28.8% of those aware had normal blood pressure. In regression analysis, systolic (R(2)=0.192) and diastolic (R(2)=0.129) blood pressures increased with age and BMI. The prevalence of high blood pressure among adults in Enugu slums is very high and a cause for concern, and calls for urgent attention.