Author(s): V Swapna, KA Parvathy, CV Harinarayan, RK Anuradha, Deepika Anand

Abstract:
India is a developing country with mixed socio-economic background. Several socio-economic and cultural traditions have a great impact on many medico-social problems in developing countries. This is more pertinent in the area of epilepsy, as socio-economic status influences its awareness, proper follow up, treatment continuation, education, occupation, financial status etc. Socio-demographic and epidemiological transition warrants Indian public health society to give prior attention as epilepsy is an eminently preventable and manageable condition. The present study was undertaken in epileptic and non-epileptic male and female patients to study the association of epilepsy with socioeconomic status, income, education, occupation and gender. Socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study showed similar patterns for both epileptics and non-epileptics which could be due to selection of subjects of study from below poverty line families. In addition, a prominent feature was observed during the study where people with epilepsy carry the burden of social stigma and isolation along with their disease which further escalates the burden of disease and prevents them from joining the mainstream of the society for education, jobs, and marriages which finally results either in unemployment or income below poverty line.