Impact of COVID-19 on the well-being of children with epilepsy including nodding syndrome in Uganda: A qualitative study

Denis Nono; Nolbert Gumisiriza; Christopher Tumwine; Luis-Jorge Amaral; Herbert Elvis Ainamani; Seggane Musisi; Robert Colebunders

doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108992

Impact of COVID-19 on the well-being of children with epilepsy including nodding syndrome in Uganda: A qualitative study

Epilepsy Behav. 2023 Jan:138:108992. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108992. Epub 2022 Nov 10.

Authors

Denis Nono¹, Nolbert Gumisiriza², Christopher Tumwine², Luis-Jorge Amaral³, Herbert Elvis Ainamani², Seggane Musisi⁴, Robert Colebunders⁵

Affiliations

¹ AfriChild Centre for the Study of the African Child, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
² Department of Mental Health, Kabale University School of Medicine, Kabale, Uganda.
³ Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
⁵ Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: robert.colebunders@uantwerpen.be.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions on the access and use of health services by children with epilepsy including nodding syndrome in Uganda.

Methods: Four focus group discussions (FGD) with parents/caregivers of children with epilepsy and five in-depth interviews with key informants were conducted between April and May 2021 at Butabika National Mental Referral Hospital and Kitgum General Hospital.

Results: COVID-19-related restrictions, including the halting of non-essential services and activities, and suspension of public transport, created several challenges not only for children with epilepsy and their parents/caregivers but also for their healthcare providers. Study participants described extreme transport restrictions that reduced their access to healthcare care services, increased food insecurity and shortage or inability to afford essential medicines as consequences of COVID-19-related restrictions. However, parents/caregivers and healthcare workers adopted several coping strategies for these challenges. Parents/caregivers mentioned taking on casual work to earn an income to buy food, medicines, and other necessities. Healthcare workers intensified outreach services to affected communities. A positive impact of lockdown measures described by some FGD participants was that most family members stayed at home and were able to care for children with epilepsy in turn.

Conclusions: Our study highlights the significant negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions on access to health services and the general well-being of children with epilepsy. Decentralized epilepsy treatment services and nutritional support could reduce the suffering of children with epilepsy and their families during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and similar future emergencies.

Keywords: COVID-19; Epilepsy; Focus group discussions; Nodding syndrome; Uganda; Wellbeing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Child
Communicable Disease Control
Epilepsy* / epidemiology
Humans
Nodding Syndrome* / epidemiology
Nodding Syndrome* / therapy
Pandemics
Uganda / epidemiology