Background: Seizure control is the main goal of epilepsy treatment. However, achieving satisfactory seizure control in resource-poor settings is challenging. This study aimed to assess treatment outcomes and associated factors among children and adolescents with epilepsy. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 270 children and adolescents with epilepsy aged 2 to 18 years at a pediatric neurology clinic in southern Ethiopia. Patients and/or parents were interviewed, medical records of the patients were reviewed, and data on demographic, clinical characteristic, and seizure control were collected. Controlled seizure was defined as seizure freedom for two consecutive years. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with seizure control. Results: The mean age of the study subjects was 8.98 ± 3.84 years, and 70% were male. The majority (60.4%) were children under the age of 10. Complete seizure freedom for at least 2 years was observed in 55.2% of the study participants, and a reduction in seizure frequency was observed in an additional 20% of them. The presence of neuropsychiatric comorbidities, absence of seizure control in the first 3 months of treatment, polytherapy, lack of response to the first anti-seizure medication, and poor treatment adherence were associated with poor seizure control. Conclusions: A large proportion of children and adolescents with epilepsy had poor treatment outcome. Stakeholders should take appropriate measures to address modifiable risk factors, including ensuring a continuous supply of anti-seizure medications and enhancing treatment adherence, to improve treatment outcomes.
Shibeshi et al. (Mon,) studied this question.