Multiple impacts of epilepsy and contributing factors: findings from an ethnographic study in Vietnam

We investigated issues related to treatment, impact of epilepsy, attitudes toward epilepsy, and disclosure in Vietnam through in-depth interviews with people with epilepsy (PWE) and their family members. We found that although participants prefer Western to traditional treatment, they experience problems in accessing different kinds of antiepileptic drugs and higher-level treatment facilities and with respect to treatment expenses. The impact of epilepsy can be observed in a wide range of daily living activities which include working, education, marriage, and family formation. Although both families and society at large do not hold negative attitudes toward epilepsy, most PWE reported a sense of burden to others. Both PWE and family members generally prefer disclosing epilepsy rather than concealing it from others. Our findings strongly suggest a need in Vietnam for different types of antiepileptic drugs and epilepsy support information for PWE, family members, and the general public.