Perceptions of epilepsy : A Q-methodology study

Abstract

Conceptions of epilepsy were studied using Q-methodology. The study was conducted at the University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus) and the surrounding communities. The aim was to examine perceptions of epilepsy among different categories of people and to explore and differentiate between these categories’ individual construction of what epilepsy is. Thirty three participants were recruited for the study. They included medical professionals (doctors and nurses), traditional and spiritual healers, university students (consisting of both health sciences and non-health sciences students), two ethnic groups (namely, the Bapedi and Vhavenda), people who are from both rural and urban areas, and high school teachers. Each category was represented by three people. Participants sorted thirty six statements developed from interviews. Four factors emerged from the analysis, and were labeled as medical perceptions of epilepsy, equality of treatment for epileptics, traditionalist perceptions of epilepsy, and religious beliefs of epilepsy. These factors are discussed.