TEACHERS' KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES TOWARD EPILEPSY IN TARKWA-NSUAEM MUNICIPALITY

Authors

  • KHALID SALIM AHMED
  • RICHARD OPOKU ASARE
  • AKWASI BOAKYE-YIADOM
  • PAUL ARMAH ARYEE

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47672/ejhs.529

Keywords:

Teachers, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, Epilepsy, Tarkwa-Nsuaem

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of basic school teachers on epilepsy in Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.

Methodology: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. Teachers were sampled from public basic schools in the municipality using the Yamane's formula for known sampling frame to arrive at 226 participants for the study. The multi-stage and convenience sampling techniques were then used to sample teachers from five of the seven circuits with each circuit being allocated 62 teachers for the study. A semi-structured questionnaire which was used for the data collection was adapted from a study in Namibia. Chi squares and P-values were applied to determine the association between dependent and independent variables as confidence level set at 0.05. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 20.

Results: The study found that majority of the teachers, 167 (73.9%) were knowledgeable about epilepsy and 191 (84.5%) had positive attitudes toward epilepsy. However, seizure management practices among the teachers were poor; only 44 (19.3%) of the teachers had appropriate seizure management practices. Notwithstanding, the religion of the teachers was found to be significantly associated with knowledge on epilepsy (p=0.041). The study found that marital status had an effect on attitudes toward epilepsy (p=0.004), whilst educational qualification was also significantly associated with attitudes toward epilepsy (p=0.001). The self-rated knowledge levels of the teachers, had no significant relationship with seizure management practices (p=0.508).

Conclusion: Though majority of the teachers had adequate knowledge and positive attitudes toward epilepsy, it did not reflect in appropriate management of seizure.

Recommendation: The Ghana Health Service should collaborate with the Ghana Education Service in training teachers on the management of seizure attacks.

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Author Biographies

KHALID SALIM AHMED

Tarkwa Municipal Hospital, P. O. Box 10, Tarkwa

Western Region, Ghana

RICHARD OPOKU ASARE

College of Nursing, Ntotroso

Ahafo Region, Ghana

AKWASI BOAKYE-YIADOM

Department of Public Health, School of Allied Health Sciences

University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

PAUL ARMAH ARYEE

Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences,

University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

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Published

2020-07-17

How to Cite

AHMED, K. S., ASARE, R. O., BOAKYE-YIADOM, A., & ARYEE, P. A. (2020). TEACHERS’ KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES TOWARD EPILEPSY IN TARKWA-NSUAEM MUNICIPALITY. European Journal of Health Sciences, 5(1), 51–67. https://doi.org/10.47672/ejhs.529

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