AJTMH Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 79(2), 2008, pp. 168-172
Copyright © 2008 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Birbeck, G. L.
Right arrow Articles by Haworth, A.
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Birbeck, G. L.
Right arrow Articles by Haworth, A.
Related Collections
Right arrow KAP (Knowledge, Aptitude, Perception)

Women’s Experiences Living with Epilepsy in Zambia

Gretchen L. Birbeck*, Elwyn Chomba, Masharip Atadzhanov, Edward Mbewe, AND Alan Haworth
Chikankata Health Services Epilepsy Care Team, Mazabuka, Zambia and Michigan State University’s International Neurologic and Psychiatric Epidemiology Program, East Lansing, Michigan; Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; Department of Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; Chainama Hills Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia; Department of Psychiatry, University of Zambia and Chainama Hills Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia

Epilepsy-associated stigma is a well-recognized phenomenon that adversely impacts the lives of people with epilepsy (PWE). The burden of stigma follows power differentials, with socially and economically disenfranchised groups being particularly susceptible. To guide instrument development for quantitative studies, we conducted a series of focus group discussions among PWE and found that women with epilepsy experienced especially adverse social and economic problems because of epilepsy-associated stigma. The social burden of the disease largely outweighed the medical burden. Women revealed seizure worries related to accidental and intentional injury and the risk of breaking taboos as well as limitations in role fulfillment and extremes of social rejection by family and community. Our findings have implications for access to care and care delivery for vulnerable populations with epilepsy.

Received March 12, 2008. Accepted for publication May 26, 2008.

Acknowledgments: We thank the Epilepsy Association of Zambia and the Chikankata Epilepsy Care Team for logistic support and the women who participated in the focus group discussions and were so open in their exchanges.

Financial support: This work was supported by NIH Grants NS48060 and NS46086. During this work, GB also received support as a Charles E. Culpeper Medical Scholar through the Goldman Philanthropic Partnerships.

* Address correspondence to Gretchen L. Birbeck, 324 West Fee Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824. E-mail: Gretchen.Birbeck{at}ht.msu.edu

Authors’ addresses: Gretchen L. Birbeck, Michigan State University’s International Neurologic and Psychiatric Epidemiology Program, 324 West Fee Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, Tel: 517-353-8122, Fax: 517-432-9414, E-mail: Gretchen.Birbeck{at}ht.msu.edu. Elwyn Chomba, Plot 5643 Lufubu Rd., Kalundu, Lusaka, University Teaching Hospital, P.O. Box RW 1X, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Tel: +260-211-254655, E-mail: echomba{at}zamnet.zm. Masharip Atadzhanov, P.O. Box 51237, Lusaka, Zambia, Tel: 0977775662, E-mail: masharip{at}yahoo.com. Edward Mbewe, Chainama Hills College Hospital, P.O. Box 30043, Lusaka, No. 1813 Palm Drive Chelston Lusaka, Tel: 0977420775, Fax: 260-1-283824, E-mail: embewe2001{at}yahoo.com. Alan Haworth, 38 Bwinjifumu Rd., Rhodes Park, Lusaka, Tel: 0977308078, E-mail: haworth{at}zamnet.zm.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2008 by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.