Impact of a Community Based Engagement Program Focused on Adolescents With Epilepsy

The goal of this community based observation study is to co-create solutions that empower people to make informed decisions about epilepsy, reduce stigma, and promote community health among the adolescent population living with epilepsy in Uganda.

The main objectives of the study are to:

Goal 1: Co-create a unique patient-community engagement program (CEP) to reduce stigma on epilepsy among adolescents and their caregivers in Uganda based on understanding of the illness.

Goal 2: Evaluate the impact of this CEP to reduce stigma on epilepsy among adolescents and their caregivers in Uganda, based on understanding of the illness.

Study participants together with the relevant community stakeholders will co-design feasible communication and activity-based change projects that are based on both cultural and scientific norms, to reduce epilepsy stigma in the community Researchers will then compare the Quality of Life, Attitudes and Beliefs about Living with Epilepsy scores (as a surrogate of stigmatizing beliefs and practices among community members) and the Kilifi Stigma Scale scores in two parishes (urban and rural) to see if there is improvement in these assessments scores following the implementation of the community change projects.

Study Site:

The study will be conducted in Wakiso District which lies in the Central region of Uganda with a target adolescent group (ages 10-18) comprising \~22% of the population. Wakiso District has the largest population density and a 7% growth rate. Our previous epilepsy prevalence work also showed it had the highest number of adolescents with epilepsy (AWE). Wakiso also offers the advantage of having both rural communities similar to those in more remote areas of the country, as well as rapidly expanding urban communities as seen in other urban centers like Kampala city, the capital.

Selecting the communities for intervention:

Two Wakiso district divisions will be randomly selected from enumerated divisions. Within these, parishes will be enumerated and divided into urban and rural parishes, from which one rural and one urban will be randomly selected. The investigators will then list the villages within each selected parish and randomly select two adjacent villages per parish. Using Objective 1 records, the investigators will contact AWE (ages 10-18) and their caregivers in these villages for invitation to the CEP, and the investigators will repeat this step as needed until the required number is obtained.

Study Implementation:

Step 1: a) Evaluate tacit knowledge and values of community stakeholders. Methods: focus groups discussions (FGDs), in depth interviews, and social media discussions with community leaders, clergy, traditional healers, teachers, and any people who are agents of progression and change. For the in depth interviews the investigators plan to engage 20-40 stakeholders, while for the focus group discussions about 10-20, the stakeholders will be categorized according to their gender and respective age groups in groups of 6-8 individuals per FGD until data saturation is achieved. b) Obtain baseline Attitudes and Beliefs about Living with Epilepsy (ABLE) scale scores. c) Select the stigma reduction implementation team (SRIT)- this will involve a smaller group of participants, called the SRIT, composed of patient champions (AWE and/or their caregivers; n=5-10), community champions (n=5-10), and members of the research team will convene to plan communication and activity-based change solutions that are based on both cultural and scientific norms of all stakeholders. This participatory approach to problem solving is a proven method to optimize change management.

Step 2: Enhance and refine epilepsy knowledge within the SRIT by cultivating shared culturally and scientifically informed perspectives. With identification of key areas of concern regarding epilepsy stigma, communities and other stakeholders of epilepsy for example Epilepsy Support Association, Uganda (ESAU) or Purple Bench Initiative will also be engaged in various dialogue forms to identify solutions to the issues identified.

Step 3: Co-create strategies for paradigm change; select most promising projects. These culturally and scientifically informed solutions may involve several communication venues, such as packaging messages in poems/songs/drama skits to be delivered through technology-based approaches such as social media, use of social network sites, text messaging, podcasts, blogs, and/or YouTube videos. The SRIT will analyze the merit of all proposed solutions and rank them according to potential for meeting the goals of the engagement within resource guidelines. This ensures investment in the innovative problem-solving practices as utilizing self-management and positive reinforcement within the impacted community. Four full prototypes will be co-created and co-designed to reduce stigma. Two knowledge cycles will inform the development and refinement of the projects to facilitate engagement and new norms Step 4: Implement unique SRIT change projects in the community, monitor project progress for adjustment.

After Cycle 1, progress is jointly evaluated from all stakeholder perspectives, projects are refined or replaced, and Cycle 2 is initiated to impact social change through re-engaging the broad community.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

Adolescent with epilepsy residing in Wakiso district

* Between the ages 10-18 years
* A resident of Wakiso district, Uganda for the previous six months
* Confirmed diagnosis for epilepsy as per the International League Against Epilepsy definition
* Provide written assent to participation in the study
* With a caregiver willing to provide written informed consent as well as detailed history regarding them.
* Willing to participate in all the required program activities with his/her caregiver

Exclusion Criteria:

Adolescent with epilepsy residing in Wakiso district who

* Does not have the time or interest to participate in the community engagement program
* Has had exposure to a similar previous community engagement program
* Is unable to fully understand what is required of him/her in the study and engage consistently throughout the whole community engagement program