Epilepsy: Attitude and Awareness among Students of Professional Social Work

Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders that affect approximately 50 million peopleworldwide, with the prevalence of 1% in the population.Nearly 80% of people with epilepsy are found indeveloping countries, where the disease remains a majorpublic health problem. It is not only because of its healthimplications but also for its social, cultural, psychologicaland economic effects. The person with epilepsy goesthrough many difficulties such as unpredictability of theseizures, adjustmental demands on personal and worklife, family coping, problems in marital relationship,issues surrounding children, economic burden, andstigma about the disease apart from the access totreatment. Managing a chronic illness such as epilepsyinvolves more than managing medical problems. Socialworkers, as change agents, can fulfil their roles aseducators, counsellors, and patient-advocates by helpingpatients and families to gain insight into the implicationsof chronic illness. The present cross sectional study wasconducted among the Master of Social Work (MSW)students specialising in Medical and Psychiatric SocialWork, with an attempt to look at the Knowledge and Attitude about Epilepsy. Thirty one students of Master ofSocial Work course with Medical and Psychiatric SocialWork (males = 9; females = 22; age = 23.61, range 22-28years) from different colleges in South India filled thequestionnaire developed to assess the knowledge andattitudes about Epilepsy. All the respondents had heardabout Epilepsy. The study revealed that while there isgood awareness about Epilepsy among the students,majority of them felt that persons with Epilepsy shouldhave restrictions in movement (84%) and that they havelimitations in employment (58%). The implications of thestudy from knowledge development, research andpractice are discussed.