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Abstract

Epilepsy affects around fifty million people worldwide, with stigma and limited healthcare access posing significant challenges, especially in low-resource settings. This scoping review aimed to identify key barriers to epilepsy care, focusing on stigma, healthcare access, and socioeconomic factors in sub-Saharan Africa and similar contexts. Using the Arksey and O’Malley framework, a systematic search was conducted across online databases for peer-reviewed studies published. The review found that stigma significantly delayed diagnosis, increased social isolation, and reduced treatment adherence. Healthcare barriers included a lack of trained professionals and inadequate treatment protocols. Socioeconomic challenges, such as poverty and rural residency, were linked to lower healthcare utilisation and medication non-adherence. Additionally, limited public awareness reinforced misinformation and discrimination. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted health interventions, public education, and stronger integration of epilepsy care into primary healthcare, particularly in underserved regions.

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Bahasa Abstract

Epilepsi memengaruhi sekitar lima puluh juta orang di seluruh dunia, dengan stigma dan akses layanan kesehatan yang terbatas menimbulkan tantangan yang signifikan, terutama di lingkungan dengan sumber daya terbatas. Tinjauan cakupan ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi hambatan utama dalam perawatan epilepsi, dengan fokus pada stigma, akses layanan kesehatan, dan faktor sosial ekonomi di Afrika sub-Sahara dan konteks serupa. Menggunakan kerangka kerja Arksey dan O'Malley, pencarian sistematis dilakukan di seluruh basis data daring untuk studi-studi yang telah ditinjau sejawat dan dipublikasikan. Tinjauan tersebut menemukan bahwa stigma secara signifikan menunda diagnosis, meningkatkan isolasi sosial, dan mengurangi kepatuhan pengobatan. Hambatan dalam layanan kesehatan meliputi kurangnya tenaga profesional terlatih dan protokol pengobatan yang tidak memadai. Tantangan sosial ekonomi, seperti kemiskinan dan tempat tinggal di pedesaan, dikaitkan dengan rendahnya pemanfaatan layanan kesehatan dan ketidakpatuhan pengobatan. Selain itu, terbatasnya kesadaran publik memperkuat misinformasi dan diskriminasi. Temuan ini menyoroti kebutuhan mendesak akan intervensi kesehatan yang terarah, edukasi publik, dan integrasi perawatan epilepsi yang lebih kuat ke dalam layanan kesehatan primer, terutama di wilayah-wilayah yang kurang terlayani.

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