Awareness, understanding and attitudes towards epilepsy among Iranian ethnic groups

OBJECTIVE This study is an attempt to identify and specify the differences among five major Iranian ethnic groups, i.e. Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, and Arab regarding their awareness, understanding and attitudes towards epilepsy and their beliefs about the treatment of epilepsy. METHOD This survey was carried out cross-sectionally on a sample containing 500 participants from five major ethnic groups in Iran. These groups were selected using cluster random sampling method in April and May 2008. A standardized questionnaire was used for data collection which was composed of four parts: sociodemographic grounds, awareness of epilepsy, attitudes toward epilepsy and causes of epilepsy. RESULTS The results of the analysis suggest that Iranian ethnic groups were significantly different in their awareness of epilepsy (p<.001) and in this regard the level of awareness about epilepsy was quiet high. Most of the respondents in all ethnic groups emphasized physical causes of epilepsy and rejected metaphysical causes. Iranian ethnic groups' attitudes toward their children's marriage with a person suffering from epilepsy and their living in isolation was highly negative, but they had positive attitude regarding their children's association with those who have epilepsy and their employment and their having children. There was a significant difference among these groups in their beliefs about the treatment of epilepsy (p<.05). Although a great number of people in different ethnic groups emphasized the treatment of epilepsy but a quite large number also were unaware of the treatment. CONCLUSION The level of awareness, understanding and also beliefs about epilepsy among Iranian ethnic groups was fairly desirable. In spite of this, Iranian's attitudes about their children's marriage with people who have epilepsy were highly negative as it was in other parts of the world. Although they had a positive attitude about their employment, childbearing, and their association with healthy people.