Background: Epilepsy is a significant public health concern with psychosocial impacts, including fear, stigma, and misconceptions. These factors contribute to human rights violations and discrimination. The objective of this study was to describe the sociocultural representation of epilepsy in Mali.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out from April 2015 to November 2016 at the University Hospital of Point G. Patients with epilepsy were identified prospectively, and a questionnaire was administered to each patient and their parents.
Results: A total of 104 patients were enrolled with an average age of 35 years, ranging from 15 to 89 years. Males were slightly predominant, accounting for 53.85%, resulting in a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.17. In terms of occupation, workers comprised 68.27% of participants. Patients residing in urban areas represented 61.54%, and the most level of education was secondary (40.38%). The majority of patients (57.69%) and their relatives (69.23%) thought that epilepsy was caused by mystical causes. Stigma was reported by 66.35% of our patients.
Conclusion: The sociocultural perception of epilepsy hinders evidence-based diagnosis and management in Africa. This study suggests a need to focus on raising awareness to change these misconceptions.
Keywords: Africa; Burden; Epilepsy; Limited resources setting; Mali.
© 2023 The Authors.