International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health 628 2017 | Vol 6 | Issue 3 International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health 628 2017 | Vol 6 | Issue 3 Perceptions of the community about epilepsy in rural Tamil Nadu, India Prasad Tukaram Dhikale, Muruganandham R, Amol Rambhau Dongre Department of Community Medicine, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Madagadipet, Puducherry, India Correspondence to: Prasad Tukaram Dhikale, E-mail: drdpkem@gmail.com Received: October 26, 2016; Accepted: November 14, 2016 INTRODUCTION Epilepsy is one of the most common serious brain disorder throughout the world. [1,2] A large cross-sectional study conducted in Kerala found the prevalence of epilepsy as 4.9/1000 population. [3] Although 70% of people with epilepsy can live normal lives with proper treatment, more than 80% people with epilepsy, living in developing Access this article online Website: http://www.ijmsph.com Quick Response code DOI: 10.5455/ijmsph.2017.1061014112016 International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health Online 2016. © 2016 Prasad Tukaram Dhikale et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license. countries, including India, do not receive appropriate treatment. [1,4] Misconceptions about epilepsy act as the greatest barrier to treatment of persons with epilepsy. [5] Fear and misunderstanding about epilepsy in the community and among caregivers lead to stigma, social isolation and discrimination of epileptic patients. [6] The stigma associated with epilepsy can be minimized by health education of the community. [7,8] According to the World Health Organization, the first aspect of the models of epilepsy control is to assess the knowledge and attitudes of the population, correcting misinformation, and increasing awareness of epilepsy. [6] There is no qualitative research on community’s perception about epilepsy available from India. However, some Background: There is no qualitative research on community’s perception about epilepsy available from India. However, some quantitative surveys were done among school children, local community, and patients of epilepsy. Caregivers and family members support is crucial for better compliance and care of epileptic patients. Objectives: The purpose was to study the perceptions of the community members of the age group 18-60 years about epilepsy in rural Villupuram, India. This can improve the quality of life of epileptic patients. Materials and Methods: It was a qualitative descriptive study in which four Focus Group Discussions were conducted; two among male and female group each. A vignette was used as a stimulus material to evoke discussion among participants. Results: The text information was coded using 22 codes which were merged into 5 major categories which were (1) perceived causes, (2) modes of spread, (3) perceived prognosis, (4) suggested treatment options, and (5) social inclusions and exclusions. Although participants felt that the epileptic patients can undergo education, earn a livelihood by employment and seek allopathic medication for treatment, there were some misconceptions about the causes of epilepsy. Patients with female gender were reported to experience more stigma and discrimination than male. Conclusion: The study gives insight into the variety of perceptions on different aspects of epilepsy. The misconceptions in the community about epilepsy can affect nutrition, maternal and child health, hygiene, health care seeking, compliance to treatment of the epileptic patients leading to poor quality of life. The results demonstrated a need for educational and awareness programs among family and community members about the causes, modes of spread, treatment of epilepsy. The findings of the present study can direct the future quantitative research in community settings in India. KEY WORDS: Social Perception; Epilepsy; Qualitative Research and Focus Groups ABSTRACT Research Article