Quality of care and associated factors among patients with epilepsy at public hospitals in Arba Minch Town: a facility-based cross-sectional study

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic disorders affecting approximately 51 million people globally and is associated with significant cases of age-standardized DALYs (182.6 per 100 000 people). The quality of health care services offered to people suffering from epilepsy often fails to meet standards in Ethiopia or internationally. This study was designed to assess the quality of care and associated factors among patients with epilepsy at public hospitals in Arba Minch Town, 2024.

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 392 adult epileptic patients attending public hospitals in Arba Minch Town. Data entry was performed via Epi-data 3.1 software, and the data were analyzed via SPSS version 24 software. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between quality of care and sociodemographic, disease-related, and treatment-related factors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to identify factors independently associated with quality of care.

Three hundred ninety-two adults with epilepsy participated in this study, for a response rate of 92.7%. More than one-half of the 237 (60.5%) patients were males, with a median age of 31 ± 12 years (interquartile range). Fewer than one-half (44.1%) of the patients adhered to antiepileptic medicines. The overall proportion of patients receiving quality care was 213 (54.3%). The seizure control rate was also low, at 130 (33.2%). Patients aged 18–29 years [AOR = 30.8 (95% CI, 8.22–35.616, p < 0.000)] and aged 30–39 years [AOR = 18.4 (95% CI, 5.016–67.613, p < 0.000)], and a seizure frequency of less than three [AOR = 2.318 (95% CI, 1.028–5.225, p < 0.043)] were positively associated with quality of care. Whereas, having poor knowledge about epilepsy [AOR = 0.107 (95% CI, 0.0.057–0.202, p < 0.000)] was negatively associated with quality care.

The quality of care provided to adult epilepsy patients at Arba Minch was low. In addition, patient knowledge, medication adherence, and the seizure control rate were also suboptimal. Therefore, addressing identified factors by involving all relevant stakeholders (health professionals, hospitals, zonal health departments, regional health bureaus, and patients) is critical for improving the quality of care. In addition, researchers willing to study this topic should use strong designs that can determine causal determinants of quality care.