Bridging the Childhood Epilepsy Treatment Gap in Africa (BRIDGE)

About half of the world's children with epilepsy do not receive treatment – known as the epilepsy treatment gap – with significantly higher rates (67%-90%) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) of Africa. We will conduct the first cluster-randomized clinical trial (cRCT), at sixty sites in three major cities in northern Nigeria, to determine the efficacy, implementation, and cost-effectiveness of a novel intervention shifting childhood epilepsy care to epilepsy-trained community health extension workers in an effort to close the epilepsy treatment gap. This research will provide information to help extend epilepsy treatment to children in LMICs worldwide who suffer from untreated seizures.

Project Status: Ongoing
Start Date: August 1, 2019
Proposed End Date: July 31, 2024
ILAE Region: Africa
Language(s): English, Other Hausa
Location: Kano, Kaduna, and Zaria, Nigeria, Aminu Kano Teaching Hosital, Kano, Nigeria
Principal Investigator / Organizer: Edwin Trevathan, M.D., M.P.H.
Contact Person: Edwin Trevathan, Edwin.trevathan@vumc.org
Patient Age: Pediatric
Project Type(s): Clinical, Community Education, Research, Capacity Building, Healthcare Professional Education, Other cluster randomized clinical trial
Funding Source(s): Government
Project Need(s): Other none at present
Publications Associated with the Project: PMID:31049462