Perceptions of psychosocial impacts of epilepsy by affected persons in northern Nigeria

Results: The subjects comprised 168 (69.4%) males and 74 (30.6%) females with mean ages of 29.5±12.4years and 30.7 ±16.0 years respectively. Their respective mean ages of onset of epilepsy were 18.6 ±14.0 years and 20.9 ±17.4 years. 8% had no formal education, 50% stopped school at various stages, while 28%, 12% and 2% completed primary, secondary and tertiary education at respective ages of 12.8 ±2.1 years, 18.2 ± 1.9 years and 24.4 ± 0.9 years. 73% were unemployed and 79% were unmarried due to rejection by spouses. More than 90% were unhappy about epilepsy, 4% were depressed and 0.8% had suicidal ideations. 28% would not socialise because of stigmatization and discrimination at home or workplace, while 5% experienced hostility from employers and colleagues at workplace.