Epilepsy-associated stigma in Bolivia: a community-based study among the Guarani population: an International League Against Epilepsy/International Bureau for Epilepsy/World Health Organization Global Campaign Against Epilepsy Regional Project.
Epilepsy is associated with a significant burden of social stigma that appears to be influenced by psychosocial and cultural factors. Stigma has a negative effect on the management of people with epilepsy (PWE), representing one of the major factors that contribute to the burden of epilepsy. To assess stigma perception among the Guarani population, one hundred thirty-two people living in Guaraní communities in Bolivia were invited to complete the Stigma Scale of Epilepsy questionnaire. The main determinants of stigma identified were: the fear linked to loss of control, the feelings of sadness and pity toward PWE, the difficulties faced by PWE in the professional and relationship fields, the level of education and type of seizure. Our study pointed out that, in this population, PWE face difficulties in everyday life because of epilepsy-associated stigma and the results attest to the importance of promoting community-based educational programs aimed at reducing the stigmatization process.
Department GF Ingrassia, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Italy.
Elisa
E
Bruno
Alessandro
A
Bartoloni
Vito
V
Sofia
Florentina
F
Rafael
Donata
D
Magnelli
Sandra
S
Padilla
Graziella
G
Quattrocchi
Filippo
F
Bartalesi
Higinio
H
Segundo
Mario
M
Zappia
Pierre-Marie
PM
Preux
Alessandra
A
Nicoletti
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001838:Bolivia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult