Abstract
The causes and treatment of epilepsy might be influenced by social and cultural effects. Research indicates that laypeople in general in Saudi Arabia may hold cultural beliefs about seizures. This qualitative study was carried out to explore how parents understand seizures, realize the suffering of their children and whether their understanding affects the way they seek appropriate help. Parents believed seizures are attributed to cultural and spiritual factors. For health professionals in Saudi Arabia, developing a model of cultural competence for the management of epilepsy is seen as an important goal for better understanding and better interventions.