Perspectives on epilepsy on the part of patients and carers in a South African urban township
Year: 2016
Type: dissertation
Abstract: ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In a setting where epilepsy support services are available but are inaccessible and where the population is of low-socio economic background and where there are experiences of marginalization and oppression, people with epilepsy and their carers may have difficulties in accessing appropriate treatment and care. This qualitative study provides rich description of perspectives and subjective experiences of adults who have epilepsy and their carers in an urban Xhosa-speaking Black township in Cape Town, South Africa. The study sought to gain an understanding of how adults who have epilepsy and their carers understand the illness (epilepsy). Its aim was to explore their perspectives and subjective experiences and the objectives were to describe and analyse these aspects and to provide information that can be used to guide policy and future research. The study used Kleinman’s (1980) Explanatory Model Framework and his theoretical framework of understanding systems of health care and healing and the Socioecological theory of Bronfenbrenner (1994, 2005) to guide the inquiry process. A total of sixty one adults who had epilepsy and were on seizure medication and their carers such as medical doctors, home-based carers, traditional healers, family members who included wives, partners, siblings and parents and other carers such as friends and neighbours volunteered to take part in the study. Individual in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and direct observations of interactions between health care professionals and adult patients with epilepsy in a health care setting from which they received their treatment and care were conducted to gain insight into the problem. The findings point to differences in the way epilepsy is understood and experienced by people living with the illness and their carers from different sectors of health care. They show how lack of appropriate, empathetic, collaborative and integrated care can affect the health and well-being of adults who have epilepsy and their carers in the setting in which the study was conducted. The study concludes by providing a tentative conceptual model for future research and recommendations for actions that can inform and influence local policy and enable adults who have epilepsy and their carers to attain a good quality of life.
Author: Mpoe Johannah Keikelame
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: University of Cape Town
OpenAlex ID: W2603057485