Knowledge and perception of epilepsy among teachers: findings from a single-center study in Indonesia

Background: Epilepsy is a neurological condition that is often stigmatized, and the most common neurological disorder encountered by teachers. A lack of knowledge about epilepsy among school professionals has been reported. This study aimed to assess the teachers’ knowledge and perceptions about epilepsy in Indonesia to develop an effective strategy to reduce the stigma of epilepsy. This study utilized a cross-sectional design and administered a 7-question questionnaire using Google Forms, with 4 questions followed by exploratory questions. It was distributed to schools in the city and district of Malang, Indonesia. The responses were recorded and presented descriptively, and subsequently analyzed using logistic regression. Result: A total of 2,362 responses were collected. Most respondents were female, under 50 years old, and employed as primary and secondary school teachers. As many as 90.3% of teachers were aware of epilepsy, but more than 50% did not know its cause. While 81.4% believed that epilepsy is not contagious, while the rest thought it could be transmitted through saliva, food, sweat, and objects used by patients. Additionally, 66.1% thought that epilepsy is an inherited disease. Although 73.79% said they were knowledgeable about epilepsy treatment, but the responses varied. The majority (71.33%) believed that epilepsy can be cured. The perceptions of epilepsy varied, with most people perceiving it as convulsions and a brain disease. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age and gender significantly influence knowledge about epilepsy, and the influencing factors are ranked as follows: (1) age (p = 0.004 < α); (2) gender (p = 0.027 < α); (3) work location (p = 0.162 > α); and (4) type of work (p = 0.302 > α). Conclusion: The knowledge and perception of epilepsy among teachers in Malang, Indonesia are still lacking. Overall, the findings indicate that while basic awareness of epilepsy exists among teachers, gaps remain in deeper understanding concerning its causes, transmission, and treatment. There is a need for continued education about epilepsy for the public, especially teachers.