Epilepsy Websites in Africa: State of the Art

Cureus. 2021 May 25;13(5):e15224. doi: 10.7759/cureus.15224.

Abstract

Purpose Epilepsy is one of the main brain disorders in the world and should be considered a priority for healthcare in Africa. Internet is a growing source of health information for healthcare and patients with epilepsy (PWEs). In this short communication, we tried to describe the status of websites on epilepsy in Africa in terms of availability and pertinence, and to suggest ideas on how to make them more effective. Methods The existence of epilepsy websites and their distribution in Africa were acquired using a questionnaire sent to different neurologists in the African continent. Results Based on the survey answers and the web search, our results show that out of 54 African countries, only 16 countries (≈30%) have an active epilepsy website. Conclusion The need for reliable, clearly written, and easily comprehended information about epilepsy is considered as an important element to enhance the quality of care, for this all African countries should create and improve their epilepsy websites in order to promote education and awareness.

Keywords: africa; awareness; education; epilepsy; websites.