Knowledge about epilepsy by students and staff of a school in Fortaleza-CE - doi:10.5020/18061230.2009.p245

• Published in: Revista brasileira em promoção da saúde = Brazilian journal in health promotion Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 245 - 250
• Main Authors: Janaiana Lemos Uchoa, Eliane Magalhães de Brito, Rita Neuma Dantas Cavalcante de Abreu, Thereza Maria Magalhães Moreira, Lucilane Maria Sales da Silva, Silvânia Maria Mendes Vasconcelos, Maria Rocineide Ferreira da Silva
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Universidade de Fortaleza 01.01.2012
• Subjects: Ensino; Epilepsia; Escolas
• ISSN: 1806-1222; 1806-1230
• DOI: 10.5020/1044

Objective: To assess the knowledge of teachers, students and employees of a school about epilepsy. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional, quantitative study held in a school in Fortaleza - CE. The universe consisted of all students and staff at the school who met the following inclusion criteria: to be a student or employee of the night shift, to be 18 years old or above. Data collection occurred in September 2007, by applying a structured questionnaire. From 69 questionnaires, 50 were completed by students, 11 by teachers and eight by other school employees. We divided the sample into two groups: staff (employees and teachers) and students. Results: The results show that 22% of staff believed that one of the forms of epilepsy transmission occurred through saliva. It was found that 98% of staff and 94% of students said that epilepsy is a neurological disorder. Concerning the control of the disease, 94% of students and 78% of staff believed that it occurs by taking the medication daily. Among the respondents, 29% of staff and 22% of students felt that people with epilepsy have difficulty in school learning. It was also observed that most participants scored appropriate procedures to be adopted in the seizure. Conclusion: The research determined gaps in the knowledge about epilepsy in the studied sample.