The Psychosocial Impact of Epilepsy; A Study on Adult People With Epilepsy Attending Clinics In Lusaka

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic disease that affects different aspects of life. Few studies have measured, using validated scales, the psychosocial impact of epilepsy in a general practice setting in Zambia. Aim: To find out the quality of life in PWE attending clinics in Lusaka, and to find out various factors affecting them Method: A survey was undertaken of 50 subjects, with generalized or partial epileptic seizures aged 18 years or more and drawn from epilepsy clinics in Lusaka. The outcome measure was the SF-31(Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31). Results: 38% of persons with active epilepsy had significantly low QOL due to their condition. Females had lower QOL scores than males. Patients with higher levels of education had higher scores than their counterparts with lesser education. People who had been ill for greater than 5 years had higher scores than those who had been ill for a shorter duration. Those whose caregivers had a high income from salary job had higher scores than those whose caregivers were unemployed. Conclusion: The occurrence of seizures, even at low frequencies, is associated with psychosocial handicap, and this may remain covert in general practice. Increased impairment in QOL was observed in female, less educated patients with recent onset of seizures, and unemployed caregivers. Poor QOL in epilepsy reflects social underachievement and calls for programs to remedy their psychosocial circumstance and improve health service provisions.