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Lived experiences of young people with epilepsy in a resource-constraint setting: Contemporary findings from Cape

Akwasi Appiah1, Kwasi Agyen-Mensah2, Akua Afriyie Karikari3

  • 1School of Medical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.

Epilepsy & Behavior Reports
|July 2, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Young people with epilepsy face significant challenges accessing care and managing their condition in resource-limited areas. However, adaptive coping strategies, strong support systems, and faith help them navigate these difficulties and pursue future goals.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder impacting millions globally, particularly young individuals.
  • Resource-limited settings present unique challenges including healthcare access, medication availability, and social stigma for young people with epilepsy (YPWE).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the lived experiences of young people with epilepsy in Ghana.
  • To understand their emotional responses to diagnosis, healthcare access, coping mechanisms, support networks, and future aspirations.

Main Methods:

  • A qualitative study utilizing in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 20 young people aged 12-25.
  • Thematic analysis was performed using Braun and Clarke's six-step method.

Main Results:

  • Six key themes emerged: emotional reactions to diagnosis (shock, fear, anxiety), challenges in accessing healthcare and medications (availability, cost, queues), significant psychosocial impact (education, social life, self-esteem), adaptive coping strategies (lifestyle changes, faith, recreation), reliance on social support systems (family, friends), and aspirations for education and careers.
  • YPWE in resource-constrained settings encounter multifaceted challenges.
  • Adaptive coping strategies, supportive relationships, and faith-based resilience help mitigate these challenges.

Conclusions:

  • Interventions should prioritize improving access to epilepsy medications and healthcare services.
  • Reducing stigma and strengthening psychosocial support are crucial for empowering YPWE.
  • Efforts should focus on enabling young people with epilepsy to achieve their educational and career aspirations.

Keywords:
Epilepsylived experiencesresource-constraint settingstigmatizationyoung people with epilepsy

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