Religious beliefs about causes and treatment of epilepsy.
BACKGROUND
It has been acknowledged that religious and complementary therapies are commonly used among South Asian communities in the UK. However, little is known about their religious beliefs in relation to epilepsy and the type of South Asian therapies that they use to treat the condition.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the influences of spiritual and religious beliefs on explanation of the cause of epilepsy, and the choice of treatment in people of South Asian origin who have epilepsy.


METHODS
Qualitative study using interviews with patients, carers, health professionals, and focus groups of people from minority ethnic communities.


METHODS
Bradford and Leeds.


METHODS
Semi-structured individual interviews with 20 Muslims, six Sikhs, and four Hindus with epilepsy; 16 nominated carers (family members, friends); 10 health professionals (specialist GPs, neurologists, specialists nurses, social workers, community GPs); and two focus groups with a total of 16 South Asians without epilepsy.


RESULTS
It was found that over half of responders attributed their illness to fate and the will of God, or as punishment for sins of a past life. Some patients had experienced prejudice from people who believed that their epilepsy was contagious. A strong network of traditional healers was found, providing a parallel system of health care in the UK and on the Indian subcontinent. People turned to religiospiritual treatments in desperation for a cure, often under the influence of their families after the perceived failure of Western medicine. Such treatments were viewed as complementary rather than as an alternative to Western medication. Younger people in particular expressed considerable scepticism about the effectiveness of these traditional South Asian treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study's South Asian sample, patients commonly turned to traditional healers in search of better health. Health professionals should be aware of the belief systems of these patients and understand the types of treatments in common use. Although these treatments might potentially compete with Western health care, they are used as an adjunct rather than a substitute. Patients have a 'healthy' scepticism about the effectiveness of such treatments, and adherence to medical therapy does not appear to be affected.
Ismail
Hanif
H
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford BD9 6RJ. hanif.ismail@bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk
Wright
John
J
Rhodes
Penny
P
Small
Neil
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012819:Sikkim