High prevalence of epilepsy in Southern and Northern Rwanda: Myth or reality?

This article discusses two studies conducted in Southern and Northern Rwanda that report a high prevalence of epilepsy. While the studies provide valuable data on the epilepsy burden in Sub-Saharan Africa, there are methodological issues that may affect the generalizability of the findings. The choice of study areas appears biased, and the selection of villages based on the absence of an epilepsy awareness campaign may introduce bias as well. Additionally, the exceptionally high participation rate in the Southern Rwanda study and the higher prevalence among women raise questions about the study's methodology and potential factors contributing to the high prevalence. The authors emphasize the need for prevalence studies to include large, heterogeneous populations and investigate local risk factors. [Extracted from the article]