KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION ABOUT EPILEPSY IN CHILDREN AMONG SCHOOL TEACHERS

As there are only limited studies on the knowledge and perception about epilepsy, we undertook this study among school teachers with a pilot tested questainnaire 36% had no knowledge and just over half of them (56%) believed that epilepsy can be cured while 40% of them felt that children suffering from epilepsy could be allowed to play without supervision of a responsible adult. A little over a quarter of them still believed in placing a key in the child's palm when having a seizure. Most (82.5%) of the teachers have not yet performed a first aid management for a child having a seizure. A focused health education programme, including workshops for teachers which will not only sensitise them but also change their perspective towards children with epilepsy is the need of the hour.