In pursuit of a cure: The plural therapeutic landscape of onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy in Cameroon - A mixed methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A high prevalence of epilepsy has been observed in several onchocerciasis-endemic villages in the Sanaga River basin, Cameroon. Recent studies suggest that ivermectin, a drug that is distributed annually with the aim of eliminating onchocerciasis, may have a protective effect against acquiring onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE). This study, therefore, provides an in-depth understanding of both the complex therapeutic landscape for epilepsy as well as the experiences related to the 'community-directed treatment with ivermectin' (CDTI) campaign in order to identify a more trenchant path forward in the fight against epilepsy.

Methodology/principal findings

Based on a mixed methods study combining a qualitative strand with a quantitative survey, we found that ep

SUBMITTER: Ronse M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7946181 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature