Women’s issues in epilepsy: Knowledge, awareness, and attitudes among a sample of the Bahraini population

Background & Objectives

A previous study conducted in Bahrain found a clear gender gap in men’s willingness to marry women with epilepsy (WWE). Therefore, this study aimed to explore knowledge gaps in a sample of men living in Bahrain regarding issues related to females that might have influenced their attitudes toward WWE. Methods: An online self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data from males in the general population of Bahrain. The questions covered demographics, acceptance of marrying a WWE, the impact of epilepsy on sexual life, the risk of infertility, miscarriages, pregnancy outcomes, the risk of inheritance and birth defects in babies born to WWE, and parenting responsibilities. Results: A total of 1,054 males participated in the survey, with the sample predominantly young and highly educated. While most (82.4%) knew that epilepsy is caused by brain electrical dysfunction, only 21% would marry a WWE. About 56% thought that WWE would conceal her condition from her future spouse, and 33.4% believed that epilepsy itself could be a reason for divorce. About half of the participants believed that most children born to WWE would not have intellectual disabilities, birth defects, or inherit the disease. Regarding parenting responsibilities, most of them believed that a WWE could care for her children and perform household tasks. Conclusion: Bahrani male members of the general public displayed specific knowledge gaps in WWE-related issues, which induced their negative attitude toward marrying a WWE. Targeted educational programs to improve such knowledge gaps must be intensified and implemented.