RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Children's access to treatment for epilepsy: experience from the Lao People's Democratic Republic
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 309
OP 313
DO 10.1136/adc.2009.181255
VO 96
IS 3
A1 Hubert Barennes
A1 Khouanheuane Sengkhamyong
A1 Emercia M Sambany
A1 Paulin N Koffi
A1 Phetvongsinh Chivorakul
A1 Gwenaelle Empis
A1 Sébastien Clavel
A1 Silaphet Somphavong
A1 Nengyang Wangkou
A1 Christian Rajaonarivo
A1 Aina Harimanana
YR 2011
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/96/3/309.abstract
AB Epilepsy affects an estimated 10.5 million children worldwide, of whom 80% live in developing countries. The treatment gap is estimated at around 90% in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). The present work analyses some of the reasons that could explain the low access to antiepileptic drugs (AED) for children with epilepsy in the Lao PDR. Epilepsy, the ‘mad pig disease’, is highly neglected. Traditional beliefs, fear and stigma are common among the general population and shared by 40% of health staff. Poor knowledge of the disease and its treatment, low trust in modern treatment, restricted access to AED and ignorance of long-term treatment explain the low access to AED. Improving understanding of epilepsy and its treatment, will improve the treatment gap for epileptic children in the Lao PDR.