Quality of Life among Children with Epilepsy from a Parent’s Point of View

Abstract Epilepsy is a one of the neurological illnesses defined by disruption of electrical activity in the brain, often causing recurrent seizure activity. Epilepsy can have a significant negative influence on a person’s quality of life (QOL), both physically and emotionally as well as social and psychological functions. This study is conducted to assess the QOL for school-age and adolescent children with epilepsy. A (descriptive) cross-sectional study design, conducted on the children with epilepsy in Neuroscience center in Al-Diwaniyah Province. The purposive sample included 106 children (school-age and adolescents) with epilepsy. The tools of study consisted of brief QOL scale modified to assess their QOL, as well as, questions about the demographic characteristics of children. The results found that the highest percentage 48% of children’s ages was 11–15 years, and more than half of the samples were male children, and 64% of the sample was educational level in primary schools, and the results of study also revealed 50.9% have moderate level of QOL. The study concluded that the overall assessment of the children QOL with epilepsy was moderate, and there was a significant relationship between some demographic characteristics of the child and with the QOL.