Abstract:
Epilepsy affects both adults and children and requires long-term medication control, with
antiepileptic drugs as the first-line therapy. Good adherence to anti-epileptic medication (AEM)
is essential for optimal treatment outcomes, particularly in children who may not require
lifelong treatment. Caregiver awareness and knowledge play a critical role, as non-adherence to
AEM has become a significant concern. This hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study
aimed to assess caregiver knowledge and medication adherence among caregivers of children
with epilepsy attending the Paediatric Clinic at Teaching Hospital Jaffna. A total of 127
caregivers aged over 18 years, caring for children under 14 years with epilepsy, participated in
the study, with a response rate of 97%. Data were collected using a knowledge questionnaire
(score range: 0–13), numerical, and the MARS-5 (Parent Version) adherence scale (score
range: 6–30), categorized into good and poor adherence. Statistical analysis included Chisquare
or Fisher’s exact tests, Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal–Wallis tests, with significance
set at p ≤ 0.05. Most caregivers were parents (96%). The mean caregiver knowledge score was
moderate (8.43/13). Good adherence was significantly associated with higher knowledge
scores, regular clinic attendance, fewer seizure episodes, family history of epilepsy, parental
factors, and awareness of medication side effects. Higher knowledge levels were associated
with being married, having a middle household income, a better understanding of epilepsy, and
awareness of AEM side effects. The findings highlight the need for ongoing caregiver
education and consistent support from healthcare professionals to ensure effective epilepsy
management in children.
