Accessibility to formal education among persons with epilepsy in Mahenge, Tanzania.

Autor: Magili PF; National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Research Centre, Tanga, Tanzania. Electronic address: pendofaustine@gmail.com., Kakoko DC; Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Electronic address: deodatuskakoko@gmail.com., Bhwana D; National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Research Centre, Tanga, Tanzania. Electronic address: danbhwana@yahoo.com., Akyoo WO; Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Electronic address: akybless@gmail.com., Amaral LJ; Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: luisjtmamaral@gmail.com., Massawe IS; National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Research Centre, Tanga, Tanzania. Electronic address: isolidesylvester@yahoo.com., Colebunders R; Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: robert.colebunders@uantwerpen.be., Mmbando BP; National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Research Centre, Tanga, Tanzania. Electronic address: b.mmbando@yahoo.com.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Epilepsy & behavior : E&B [Epilepsy Behav] 2023 Nov; Vol. 148, pp. 109445. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Sep 29.
DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109445
Abstrakt: Background: Epilepsy is estimated to affect 50 million people globally, with 80% living in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Children with epilepsy (CWE) in SSA are often socially isolated, and many do not get access to school. This study aimed to explore the barriers hindering accessibility to formal education among CWE in Mahenge, Tanzania.
Methods: The study was conducted in June 2022 in four villages (Mdindo, Msogezi, Mzelezi and Sali) using quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative included 203 persons with epilepsy (PWE), while the qualitative involved six focus group discussions and 17 in-depth interviews. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using Stata and Nvivo software, respectively.
Results: Of the 203 PWE, 62 (30.5%) had never enrolled in school, while 77 (54.6%) of those enrolled dropped-out before completing it. The perceived barriers to accessing education were categorized as individual barriers (such as frequent seizures, learning difficulties, anti-seizure medication side effects and perceived stigma), Community barriers (such as stigma and discrimination, negative beliefs and misconceptions, relocation to farms and poor socio-economic status), and Institutional barriers (including lack of knowledge about epilepsy among stake-holders, topography and distance to schools).
Conclusion: There is a high rate of dropouts and non-enrolment of CWE in schools within the Mahenge area. Negative beliefs and low awareness of the community about epilepsy and formal education contribute to this issue. This calls for more advocacy to raise community awareness on epilepsy. The government should enforce an inclusive education policy and provide free and uninterrupted anti-seizure medication for seizure control.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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