Background
Tourette syndrome (TS) is reported in all cultures, although is speculated to be rare among those of Sub‐Saharan African descent. A lack of research exploring TS in the context of Sub‐Saharan Africa has meant that it is not yet established whether this apparent rarity is due to a true low prevalence or if identification of the condition merely is unrecognized. The present study aimed to explore health professionals’ knowledge and attitudes of the identification, diagnosis and management of TS in Uganda.
Method
A mixed‐methods design was used to collect data from 152 Ugandan healthcare professionals by survey. Of these, 6 professionals took part in semi‐structured interviews. Data gathered were analyzed with descriptive statistics and qualitatively using thematic analysis.
Results
Professionals’ views and experiences led to conclusions addressing (a) perceived challenges in diagnosing and treating TS in a Ugandan healthcare setting, (b) the role of cultural factors in help‐seeking behaviors, and (c) ways by which efforts can be made to build capacity in awareness and clinical care.
Conclusions
The findings suggest that TS is present in Uganda, but a number of factors hinder detection rates causing it to be under‐reported in the population. This study highlights the need for more focused and adequate training for all healthcare professionals in Uganda and education campaigns to increase awareness among the general public.