Knowledge and attitudes towards epilepsy in Zambia: A questionnaire survey

Abstract Misconception and stigma towards epilepsy have a profound impact on this disease in Africa. An unselected sample of Zambian people was interviewed to investigate their knowledge and attitudes towards epilepsy. Proper/improper answers were scored, and a composite score was developed with negative values for unsatisfactory awareness and high stigma levels. The sample comprised 231 people residing in urban (107) or in rural (124) areas. The median and interquartile range of scores for epilepsy awareness and stigma were, respectively, − 1 (− 3; + 1) and + 1 (− 1; + 6). Poor education was the only significant predictor of unsatisfactory awareness (p = 0.0131), while education and residency were significantly associated with stigma (p