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Research ArticleOriginal Article
Open Access

Public awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy in Saudi Arabia is improving

Osama Y. Muthaffar and Mohammed M. Jan
Neurosciences Journal April 2014, 19 (2) 124-126;
Osama Y. Muthaffar
Pediatric Neurology Department, National Neurosciences Institute, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Mohammed M. Jan
Pediatric Neurology Department, National Neurosciences Institute, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine public awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: A focused 10-item questionnaire was designed to survey public awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy. Personal interviews were conducted randomly by one author in preselected public places in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during March and April 2011.

RESULTS: Seven hundred and forty-nine interviews were completed during the study period. Most participants (77.4%) had prior knowledge of epilepsy, and 52% believed that epilepsy is an organic disease. This correlated with their educational level, as those with higher levels of education were more likely to link epilepsy to organic causes (p=0.008). However, 15% also linked epilepsy to evil spirit possession, and up to 37% preferred spiritual rituals and religious healing to medical treatments. Although most respondents (61%) would accept an epileptic patient in a regular job, 71% (particularly males) reported reservations in marrying someone with epilepsy (p=0.001).

CONCLUSION: The awareness and attitudes of the Saudi public toward epilepsy are showing some improvement. However, it is still thought to be linked to evil spirit possession by some, and spiritual rituals and religious healing are commonly believed to be effective treatments. Targeted areas for focused education were identified.

  • Copyright: © Neurosciences

Neurosciences is an Open Access journal and articles published are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (CC BY-NC). Readers may copy, distribute, and display the work for non-commercial purposes with the proper citation of the original work.

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Neurosciences Journal: 19 (2)
Neurosciences Journal
Vol. 19, Issue 2
1 Apr 2014
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Public awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy in Saudi Arabia is improving
Osama Y. Muthaffar, Mohammed M. Jan
Neurosciences Journal Apr 2014, 19 (2) 124-126;

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Public awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy in Saudi Arabia is improving
Osama Y. Muthaffar, Mohammed M. Jan
Neurosciences Journal Apr 2014, 19 (2) 124-126;
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© 2025 Neurosciences Journal Neurosciences is copyright under the Berne Convention and the International Copyright Convention. All rights reserved. Neurosciences is an Open Access journal and articles published are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (CC BY-NC). Readers may copy, distribute, and display the work for non-commercial purposes with the proper citation of the original work. Electronic ISSN 1658-3183. Print ISSN 1319-6138.

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