Project Description:
Epilepsy is one of the most common disabling neurological disorders, but there are significant gaps in our knowledge about childhood epilepsy and associated comorbid conditions, including developmental disabilities. The extent to which these disorders exist in rural populations, especially among children, has not been fully assessed.
The proposed study will assess the prevalence of epilepsy and secondary disabilities among children in a low-income rural setting. This information is important for policy makers and health care, education, and mental health providers that serve these children in identifying risk factors and planning and providing appropriate services.
Long-Term Goal: To broaden knowledge of the epidemiology of epilepsy and determine the frequency of associated secondary disabilities among children of Midwestern rural, impoverished, predominantly White, low-income populations.
Specific Objectives:
1. to ascertain all cases of epilepsy among children 0-17 years of age in nine rural Kansas counties. This will be accomplished through case identification, followed by a primary consensus review conducted by two epileptologists and an epidemiologist to determine classification, followed by a family interview to gain additional information on secondary conditions, medical treatment, access to care and quality of life, and then followed by a final consensus review to assimilate all information.
2. to determine how epilepsy is associated with secondary developmental disabilities. This will be accomplished by data analysis establishing an epidemiologic assessment of epilepsy and then associated secondary conditions. Both analyses will include epilepsy types, syndromes, etiologies, assessment of stress and quality of life, and access to and quality of care.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote
