title: Parental concerns towards children and adolescents with epilepsy in Sri Lanka--Qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Social, cultural, psychological and many other factors significantly impact the lives of epileptic children and their families. Parental concerns towards their children are less known in south Asian children with epilepsy. We aimed to identify the parental concerns regarding their children and adolescents with epilepsy in Sri Lanka.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out qualitative study in 3 districts of Sri Lanka, comprising 16 in-depth interviews with parents of children and adolescents with epilepsy and 3 focus group discussions with primary caregivers of epileptic children and key informants (schoolteachers, public health staffs). Content analysis of the interview data was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parental concerns were spread among seven themes that emerged from the content analysis. These concerns were about the child's functioning in areas such as physical, behavioural, psychological and social, education, concerns related to anti-epileptic therapy and epilepsy as a disease. Parents were more concerned about their child's safety, educational achievements and future prospects in terms of employment and marriage. Unpredictability of seizures, fear of stigma and unawareness of epilepsy were the main reasons voiced by the parents for having such concerns. Increased concern and perception of vulnerability was seen among parents whose children had epilepsy and co-morbid illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parental concerns towards their children and adolescents show a multidimensional construct. Unpredictability of seizures, fear of stigma and unawareness of epilepsy were identified as key influential factors in moulding the parental concerns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health-Care Sciences, Eastern University Sri Lanka, No: 50, New Road, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. Electronic address: muru_roshi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Roshini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murugupillai
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, PO Box 25, Kynsey Road, Colombo-08, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Jithangi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wanigasinghe
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Eastern University Sri Lanka, Vantharumoolai, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muniyandi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, PO Box 25, Kynsey Road, Colombo-08, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Carukshi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arambepola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003469:Culture; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D036301:Qualitative Research; D057545:Social Stigma; D013188:Sri Lanka
keywords: Adolescents with epilepsy; Children with epilepsy; Parental concern; Seizure; Stigma