Effect of Covid19 Outbreak Associated Restrictions on Mothers Health Practice Regarding Care of their Epileptic Children

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is the most severe public health problem facing the world currently. Childhood epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disease that need long term treatment and close follow up. so , the management of children with epilepsy has become more challenging during this outbreak due to the prevention measures that are being taken.

Aim: Assess the impact outbreak of covid19 associated restrictions on mothers health practice regarding care of their epileptic children Methods: A descriptive research design was used within the current study. Setting: The present study was carried out in outpatient in the following hospitals : Psychological hospital and El-Nasr hospital pediatric specialty in port said city, Egypt. Sample: A convenient sample of 80 mothers was used. Tool: The data was collected through structured interviewing questionnaire for mothers. Results: Revealed that about 57.5% of epileptic children have moderate degree of epilepsy according to epileptic scale, also demonstrates that 55.0% of mothers had fair practice about epilepsy while 41.2% of mothers had fair practice and only 3.8% of givers had good practice. Conclusion: Pandemic and associated restrictions have had a negative impact on care of child with epilepsy. Perceived increases in seizures, reluctance to go to hospital and change in routine care (sleep-physical activity) are likely to impact on epilepsy management and most of mothers had fair practice about epilepsy. Recommendation: Improve practices of mothers through visual aids such as posters and clear language booklets and group health education in hospital outpatient clinics.