Seizure Impact on the School Attendance in Children with Epilepsy: Prospective Study in the Pediatrics Neurology Clinic at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital,Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disease seen in Pediatrics Neurology Units in developing countries and like other chronic disorders it has been found to negatively affect school attendance and academic performance influencing school life of children. An educational underachievement can also be due to comorbid learning and behavioral problems in these children. The impact of epilepsy on school attendance may also contribute to the academic difficulties of children with epilepsy. The purpose of this study is to assess school absenteeism and determine which factors influence school absenteeism in school aged children and adolescents with epilepsy. Methods: A hospital based prospective study was conducted among school aged children and adolescents with epilepsy between the ages of 7-18 years attending at the Paediatric Neurology Clinic and their primary caretakers. A sample of 183 children and adolescents were included in the study. The participants (children and their parents/caregivers) gave information concerning the socio-demographic data, primary caregiver’s information like educational status, information concerning child’s seizure and epilepsy status disclosures to teachers and peer. And medical cards were thoroughly reviewed. Descriptive statistics and bi-variate logistic regression analysis was done to assess determinants of school absenteeism. Results: The prevalence of school absenteeism among children aged 7-18years at PNC follow up was 69.4%.Among other factors female sex with AOR 2.19(95% CI 1.03-4.84), having symptomatic seizure AOR 2.51(95% CI 1.09-5.86), having seizure at school and having longer duration of seizure were statistically significant association with school absenteeism. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the school absenteeism is very common among children aged 7-18 years at PNC follow up (69.4%) and that seizure has a significant impact on children’s school attendance. Keywords: Epilepsy; School; Childhood; Absenteeism; Ethiopia Trial registration: N/A