Community-based management of epilepsy in Southeast Asia: Two intervention strategies in Lao PDR and Cambodia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Epilepsy affects more than 50 million people worldwide, 80% of whom live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In Southeast Asia, the prevalence is moderate (6‰), and the main public health challenge is reducing the treatment gap, which reaches more than 90% in rural areas.

Methods

This 12-month comparative study (intervention vs. control areas) assessed the community effectiveness of two different strategies for the identification and home follow-up of people with epilepsy by Domestic Health Visitors for epilepsy (DHVes). In Lao PDR, DHVes were health center staff covering several villages via monthly visits; in Cambodia, DHVes were health volunteers living in the villages.

Findings

At baseline, the treatment gap was >95% in Lao PDR and 100% in Camb

SUBMITTER: Boumediene F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8315387 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature