Epilepsy in Niger: An overview of the current situation

Abstract

A major public health concern in the world, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries, epilepsy is poorly studied in Niger, and its prevalence in the general population is unknown. Only two hospital-based studies have been published in Niger, reporting an estimated mean hospital prevalence of epilepsy of 24.2% (95% CI: 23.2-25.2), mainly affecting patients younger than 18 years (54.6%, 95% CI: 52.2-57.0), and males (59.8%, 95% CI: 57.4-62.2). To date in Niger, people living with epilepsy (PWE) are usually cared for by non-physician healthcare workers (mainly nurse technicians in mental health), general medical doctors (non-specialist physician), and non-neurologist physicians. In routine practice, these health workers make the diagnosis of epilepsy essentially based on the clinic, i.e., the repetition of epileptic seizures over time (mainly generalized tonic-clonic seizures) because most of them practiced in health centers or district hospitals or regional hospital centers in which electroencephalogram and neuroradiological explorations are of limited access or unavailable as well as a referral neurologist. Only 10 neurologists are currently practicing in Niger for a total population estimated at 21466800 inhabitants by the World Health Organization in 2018. In 41.8% (95% CI: 39.4-43.2) of the cases, the etiology was unknown with neuroradiological explorations and laboratory tests not performed in most cases. Genetic etiologies are the most frequent etiologies (40.8; 95% CI: 38.4-43.2), followed by Structural etiologies (11.7; 95% CI: 10.1-13.3) particularly hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, and infectious etiologies (6.8%; 95% CI: 5.6-8.0), especially cerebral malaria. PWEs are the target of social stigma and discrimination due to erroneous cultural and religious beliefs about epilepsy of the people from Niger. The present review is an update on the different aspects of epilepsy in Niger.

Keywords: Niger; clinical characteristics; epilepsy; sociocultural aspects; sub-Saharan Africa.