Women’s issues in epilepsy: Knowledge, awareness, and attitudes among a sample of the Bahraini population

IF 2.3 3区医学 Q2 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Epilepsy & Behavior Pub Date : 2025-02-07 DOI:10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110299

Alaa Elmazny , Shaikha Saud Albinali , Manar Matar Alhajooj , Noor Ahmed Almousa , Amr Mohamed Fouad , Noor Mohammed Alzayer , Fajer Saeed M Faraj , Salsabil Abo Al-Azayem , Marah Abdulhadi Alhamoud , Layan Abdulmunem Al Abbas , Hind Mohammed Abdulla , Haneen Ammar Buallay , Rehab Magdy

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background & Objectives

A previous study conducted in Bahrain found a clear gender gap in men’s willingness to marry women with epilepsy (WWE). Therefore, this study aimed to explore knowledge gaps in a sample of men living in Bahrain regarding issues related to females that might have influenced their attitudes toward WWE. Methods: An online self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data from males in the general population of Bahrain. The questions covered demographics, acceptance of marrying a WWE, the impact of epilepsy on sexual life, the risk of infertility, miscarriages, pregnancy outcomes, the risk of inheritance and birth defects in babies born to WWE, and parenting responsibilities. Results: A total of 1,054 males participated in the survey, with the sample predominantly young and highly educated. While most (82.4%) knew that epilepsy is caused by brain electrical dysfunction, only 21% would marry a WWE. About 56% thought that WWE would conceal her condition from her future spouse, and 33.4% believed that epilepsy itself could be a reason for divorce. About half of the participants believed that most children born to WWE would not have intellectual disabilities, birth defects, or inherit the disease. Regarding parenting responsibilities, most of them believed that a WWE could care for her children and perform household tasks. Conclusion: Bahrani male members of the general public displayed specific knowledge gaps in WWE-related issues, which induced their negative attitude toward marrying a WWE. Targeted educational programs to improve such knowledge gaps must be intensified and implemented.

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来源期刊

Epilepsy & Behavior 医学-行为科学

CiteScore

5.40

自引率

15.40%

发文量

385

审稿时长

43 days

期刊介绍： Epilepsy & Behavior is the fastest-growing international journal uniquely devoted to the rapid dissemination of the most current information available on the behavioral aspects of seizures and epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior presents original peer-reviewed articles based on laboratory and clinical research. Topics are drawn from a variety of fields, including clinical neurology, neurosurgery, neuropsychiatry, neuropsychology, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, and neuroimaging. From September 2012 Epilepsy & Behavior stopped accepting Case Reports for publication in the journal. From this date authors who submit to Epilepsy & Behavior will be offered a transfer or asked to resubmit their Case Reports to its new sister journal, Epilepsy & Behavior Case Reports.