Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases in children, significantly impacting their lives and those of their families. In order to assess parents' perceptions and knowledge about childhood epilepsy, we conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study. This survey was conducted among parents of children treated for epilepsy at the provincial hospital of Ouarzazate, Morocco, to assess their level of knowledge, perceptions and attitudes towards the disease. During the period from March 1 to September 1, 2024. The average age of the parents interviewed was 30.4 years with a clear female predominance (78%). Our survey included parents of varying intellectual levels, among whom 29.3% were illiterate. The study revealed several gaps in understanding of epilepsy. Nearly 72% of parents had no prior knowledge of the disease before their child was diagnosed, and 67% did not know the cause of epilepsy. In addition, misconceptions such as the perception of the disease as being caused by evil spirits, or as a mental illness, persist among a significant number of parents. Despite these shortcomings, the majority of parents (79.2%) were able to recognize the symptoms of an epileptic seizure, mainly in the form of convulsions. However, inappropriate practices during seizure management, such as inserting objects into the child's mouth, are still common. This survey also showed that epilepsy has a significant negative impact on the daily lives of families, both emotionally and socio-economically, with a high rate of discrimination against children with epilepsy. These results highlight the urgent need to improve awareness, education and psychological support for parents for better management of childhood epilepsy, particularly through culturally appropriate information campaigns and local social.