Abstract:
Background: Parents' attitudes towards childhood seizures and epilepsy differ depending on
awareness, emotional impact, stigma, medical experiences, support networks, and everyday life
implications. Addressing these characteristics can improve support and education efforts, helping
parents to better manage epilepsy.
Objectives: To assess the parental attitudes towards seizures and epilepsy and factors associated
among parents or guardians in Galle district
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken with conveniently selected 250
parents who attended the paediatric neurology clinic at teaching hospital Karapitiya. Data were
gathered using an interviewer-administered Self-developed pretested questionnaire. The data was
examined with Chi-square test and Pearson correlation using SPSS version 25.0.
Results: Of the sample, 14.4% (n=36) were male and 85.6% (n=214) were female parents.
Misconceptions persist, with 10.4% (n=26) associating epilepsy with spiritual reasons, 85.6%
(n=214) rejecting this idea, and 4% (n=10) uncertain. A minority, 7.6% (n=19), accepts exorcism
as treatment, while the vast majority, 88% (n=220), does not, with 4.4% (n=11) uncertain. The
stigma associated with isolation has been strongly rejected by 97.6% (n=244), while 2.4% (n=6)
are unsure about it. While 88.8% (n=222) rejected hiding the disease from society, 8.8% (n=22)
agreed to hide it from society, and 2.4% (n=6) were not sure about it. Similarly, 88.8% (n=222)
reject the idea of special schooling for epileptic children, showcasing a strong tendency towards
inclusivity and dispelling myths surrounding epilepsy. The majority (57.2%, n=195) feel epilepsy
may affect their child’s marital life later in the future, whereas 39.6% (n=99) disagree, and a small
fraction, 3.2% (n=8) are unsure. Concerns extend to parenthood, with 56% (n=140) thinking their
child's capacity for conception could be impaired by epilepsy, while 34.4% (n=86) are not
convinced, and 9.6% (n=24) remain uncertain. Educational level has a significant association with
parental attitudes towards epilepsy emerged (p=0.034).
Conclusion: The study found that most parents had more positive attitudes regarding affecting
their child's epilepsy later in life than negative attitudes, with their education level possibly
affecting their thinking.
