Social effects of nodding syndrome on the lives of children living in Kitgum district, Northern Uganda

Abstract

The debilitating nature of nodding disease can have a significant socioeconomic impact of the individuals and families affected. A broad understanding of these sociodynamic effects is crucial for an integrated management of the disease. The general objective of the study was to establish the social effects of Nodding syndrome among the children between the ages of 1-19 years of Kitgum district in Northern Uganda. The objectives were; identification of the social effects of nodding syndrome on the lives of children in Kitgum district, identification of how biological and psychological effects of the condition are affecting their social life style and identification of factors related to the symptoms of the syndrome. This was a descriptive cross sectional study which considered 82 affected individuals using questionnaires, focus groups and interviews to study the social effects of nodding syndrome among children aged 1 to 19 years in Kitgum (Northern Uganda). Of the 82 affected individuals, stigma was reported among 19.51% (16) at the work places, 25% (4) at home by their siblings, 34.69% (17) by their teachers at school, 61.22% (30) by their fellow students and 24.33% (9) at church and 45.12% (37) by their peers in the neighborhood. Of the school going age (59.76% that is 49), 40.24% (33) are currently not going to school. Overall, 69.51% of the participants were not happy about their current lives…