Conception, Perception and Attitudes Among Epilepsy Patients in Bangladesh
Epilepsy is a chronic, noncommunicable brain disease
that affects around 50 million individuals worldwide,
with nearly 80% of them living in low- and middle-income
countries, making it one of the most prevalent
neurological diseases. It is distinguished by recurrent
seizures, which are brief episodes of involuntary
movement, feelings, or altered consciousness caused
by an increase in electrical brain activity. 1 Epilepsy
stigma is a serious public health concern in Bangladesh,
with an estimated 1.2 to 2 million individuals mistaking
the condition for a curse or mental lunacy. Epilepsy
causes severe social marginalization, with studies
showing that up to 89.8% of patients feel like misfits,
resulting in intense stigma and distress. Stigma causes
a ~70% treatment gap, especially in low-income areas,
and creates impediments to employment, education and
marriage.2