ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Epilepsy, a disease when seizures can occur from antiepileptic drug withdrawal, requires regular drug taking. Non-compliance, therefore, is a major factor contributing to sub-optimal control of the seizures. PURPOSE: To determine the factors associated with noncompliance in epileptics in rural Thailand. METHOD: All epileptics, registered in the Pak Thong Chai District and their caregivers were invited to be interviewed and examined by a neurologist in their village. RESULTS: Of a total of 93 epileptics registered, 83 with their caregivers were interviewed and examined by the neurologist (T.A.) and of those 72 were adults. Of the 72 adult epileptics, 41 (56.9%) were 100 per cent compliant and factors found to be significantly associated with compliance were gender, household income and patient's health insurance (p-value < 0.05). The major reasons for non-compliance were misunderstanding (48.4%), forgetfulness (16.1%) and economic problem (12.9%). CONCLUSION: To improve patient-compliance, the real factors for non-compliance, which are unique to patients in a specific area, need to be identified.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Analysis of Variance , Anticonvulsants/administration & dosage , Child , Child, Preschool , Data Collection , Drug Administration Schedule , Drug Therapy, Combination , Epilepsy/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Patient Compliance/statistics & numerical data , Probability , Surveys and Questionnaires , Risk Factors , Rural Population , Severity of Illness Index , Sex Factors , Socioeconomic Factors , Thailand , Treatment Refusal/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A study of the community-based burden of illness based upon prevalence is needed to plan intervention strategy. PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of epilepsy in a rural population in Thailand. METHOD: From January to June, 2000, all of the people in Talardkav sub-district were invited to be interviewed and examined by a neurologist who visited their village. RESULTS: Of the 2,069 people in 553 households who gave information (72.2% of the total households), 43 had a history of seizure and of the 43, 15 were epileptics. The prevalence of epilepsy was estimated at 7.2 per 1,000 population. The highest two peaks were in the age groups of 5-9 and 25-34 years (17.0, 17.4/1,000, respectively). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of epilepsy in rural Thailand is low, although probably underestimated, but it is the best to date for rural Thailand.