Teshoma Alemu ¹ Abera Cheru ^2* Lema Daba ³ Takele Tiki ⁴ Meseret Ifa Wanjo ⁵

• ¹ Independent researcher, Dawo district Health office, south-west shoa zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia
• ² School of Environmental Health Science, College of Health and Medical Science, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
• ³ Department of Emergency and Critical Care Nursing, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
• ⁴ Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia
• ⁵ Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia

Background: Globally in around 50% of cases, the underlying cause of epilepsy remains unknown although numerous underlying disease pathways may contribute to the condition. Nearly 80% of people with epilepsy live in low-and middle-income countries and the risk of premature death in people with epilepsy is up to three times higher than for the general population. Identifying the determinants of epilepsy is important to apply evidence-based interventions for a better outcome.However, this information is scarce in a country with limited-resource like Ethiopia.: To assess the determinant of epilepsy among outpatients in Dawo public health institutions, February 29 to April 15 2023. Method: An institutional-based unmatched case-control study design was applied among 61 cases and 122 control study subjects who were selected by consecutive sampling technique in Dawo public health institutions. Data was collected by using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Data were coded, entered into EPIDATA version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20, for analysis.Descriptive analysis was used to describe the percentages and frequency distributions. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify determinants of epilepsy and a variable with a p ˂ 0.05 was considered significant.Result: A total of 61 cases and 120 controls were included in the study with an overall response rate of 98.9%. The majority of participants 38(62.3) of cases and 63(52.5) controls were farmers by occupation. Family history of epilepsy (AOR=13.71 (95%CI 3.03-22.006), history of febrile seizure (AOR=14.57 (95% CI 2.930-24.522), history of head injury (AOR=6.853 (95% CI 1.78-16.402) and non-use of latrine were found to be determinant of epilepsy (AOR= 0.028 (95% CI 0.008-0.04).This study identified a family history of epilepsy, a history of febrile seizures, head injury, and unavailability of latrines as independent predictors of epilepsy in the study area. The information that adverse febrile seizures increase the risk of epilepsy suggests that much of the epilepsy in the Dawo district may be preventable by improved maternal, neonatal, and child care and it is recommended that the Dawo health office at different levels and stakeholders work on it.