Care Provided by Mothers to their Children with Epilepsy

Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common and serious neurological disorders of childhood, having multiple social and psychological consequences (Shubham et al., 2014). Approximately 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy; more than half of cases begin in childhood. It is estimated that about 10.5 million children under 15 years have active epilepsy, representing about 25% of the global epilepsy population (WHO, 2015 and Brabcov & Kohout, 2015).

Generally, epilepsy has a great influence on all aspects of quality of life (physical, mental and social health), which is exercised directly by affecting the physical and mental health, and indirectly by introducing limitations and decreasing the opportunities for taking part in quality of life improving activities. Studies have described feelings of shame, rejection, fear, worry, low self-esteem, and perception of stigma to be common in children with epilepsy. Epilepsy also has a significant emotional impact on both parents and the affected children, and parental emotional stability has been found to be a m