Doctoral Dissertation Research: Pediatric Epilepsy Intervention in Kilifi Kenya: Understanding Ecocultural Barriers to Treatment, Community Intervention and Family Well-being

癫痫是发展中国家儿童中最常见的神经系统疾病。在肯尼亚最贫穷的地区之一Kilifi地区进行的研究显示，该地区是肯尼亚和非洲大陆患病率最高的地区之一。生物医学抗癫痫药物在控制癫痫发作方面是有效的。然而，在Kilifi区，只有不到5%的活动性癫痫患儿能够获得并坚持使用这些药物。这一背景提出了几个理论问题，包括：为什么很少有家庭获得生物医学治疗？癫痫和治疗选择如何影响这些儿童家庭的生活和福祉？Thomas Weisner和Nathaniel Kendall-Taylor的研究项目考察了文化和物质因素如何影响家庭寻求小儿癫痫治疗的方式，以及这些因素及其治疗选择如何影响家庭幸福的概念。他们的主要目标是：1)提高对癫痫和慢性儿科残疾如何更普遍地影响家庭福祉的理论认识；2)检查影响这些家庭如何寻求治疗的文化、社会和物质因素；3)探索不同的治疗决定如何影响家庭动态和功能。他们的研究采用了混合方法，包括调查、以人为中心的访谈、参与者观察和结构化监测。他们的项目促进了关于家庭因素对儿童残疾管理的影响的文献，并补充了最近发展的关于“福祉”的人类学文献。此外，他们的项目将为博士生纳撒尼尔提供人种学方法方面的培训，并将发展他在东非沿海地区的专业知识。

Epilepsy is the most frequent neurological disorder in children in developing countries. Research in Kilifi district, one of the poorest areas in Kenya, has revealed some of the highest prevalence rates in Kenya and on the African continent. Biomedical anti-epilepsy drugs are effective at controlling seizures. However, fewer than 5% of children with active epilepsy in Kilifi District access and adhere to these medications. This context presents several theoretical questions including: why do so few families access bio-medical treatment? and, how do epilepsy and treatment choice affect the lives and well-being of the families of these children? Thomas Weisner and Nathaniel Kendall-Taylor's research project examines how cultural and material factors influence the way families seek treatment for pediatric epilepsy, and how these factors and their treatment choices affect the concept of family well-being. Their primary objectives are to: 1) improve the theoretical understanding of how epilepsy, and chronic pediatric disabilities more generally affect the well-being of a family, 2) examine the cultural, social, and material factors that shape how these families seek treatment, and 3) explore how different treatment decisions influence family dynamics and functioning. Their research applies a mixed methods approach including surveys, person-centered interviews, participant observation and structured monitoring. Their project contributes to the literature on the effects of family factors on the management of childhood disability, and adds to the recently developed anthropological literature on "well-being". Additionally their project will provide training in ethnographic methods for Nathaniel, a PhD student, and will develop his regional specialization in Coastal East Africa.