Psychiatric morbidity among parents of children with epilepsy in Enugu, Nigeria
- Author:
AE Aronu
;
NC Ojinnaka
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Neurology Asia
2009;14(1):15-20
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background: Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological illness in Nigerian children. The burden of
this disease is enormous and psychiatric disorders have been reported not only in the patients but even
their siblings. There is a dearth of information on psychiatric morbidity among parents of children
with epilepsy. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among
parents of children with epilepsy in our environment and the relationship with any seizure-related
factors. Method: In this cross-sectional study, 308 parents of epileptic children attending the Paediatric
Neurology Clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu and 308 control parents were
interviewed using the 60-question version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-60) to obtain
information on the mental health of the parents. Result: One hundred and nine index parents and 68
controls had GHQ scores of 12 and above. The difference was statistically significant with χ2
= 22.73
and p<0.001. There was a significantly higher morbidity rate among index mothers (49.4%) compared
to the index fathers (20.9%) with p< 0.001. Mean GHQ scores were also significantly higher in index
mothers than in controls with t = 6.14, p<0.001. Psychiatric morbidity in parents was significantly
related only to seizure control with p<0.001.
Conclusion: Parents of epileptic children have an increased prevalence of psychiatric morbidity and
mothers are more affected than fathers. Need for an in-depth psychiatric study on parents and regular
counseling is advocated.
- Full text:P020150901592998645757.pdf
