Beliefs on epilepsy in Northern Ghana

•There are horrific perceptions on epilepsy found in Northern Ghana.•The most interesting perceived cause of seizures in males is harboring anal worms.•There is still much spirituality attached to the cause of epilepsy in Northern Ghana.•It is believed that alternating hot with cold baths can be a cure for epilepsy.•There is a belief that adulterous women have epilepsy as a punishment.

Stigma associated with any chronic disease is one of the greatest challenges to the treatment of the disease. Stigma in health is a complex concept, and it causes people with a stigmatizing disease to conceal their disorder. Epilepsy is one such condition with numerous outdated, sometimes inhumane, and sometimes absurd perceptions that tend to fuel its stigma. Health-care workers who participated in an epilepsy training program as part of a World Health Organization/Ghana Health Service collaboration were asked to compile the perceptions associated with epilepsy in their communities. The comments they gathered are presented here.