Abstract:
Abstract
Background: Failure to control hypertension leads patients to end up with unavoidable
complications including death. Non adherence to treatment is the main factor to develop
such devastating complications. Complex factors for non adherence were not studied well
enough while it is needed to improve adherence status. Moreover, understanding patient’s
perceptions towards their treatments is a helpful approach to improve adherence and to
prevent the complications due to the behavior of non adherence.
Objective: To assess non- adherence to anti-hypertensive treatment and associated factors
among patients with hypertension at public health facilities in Gondar town.
Methods: Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 02 – April 30,
2019 in Gondar town. Systematic sampling technique was used to select a total of 389
patients. A structured interview questionnaire was used. The data were analyzed using
STATA version 14. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed and P < 0.05 with
95% confidence interval was considered to measure statistically significant variables.
Result: A total of 385 respondents participated giving response rate of 98.9% .Among those
31.4%(95% CI: 29.97-36.26 ) were found to be non adherent to antihypertensive treatment.
Rural residence (AOR: 2.9, CI :1.24-6.76), inadequate instruction (AOR: 2.8, CI :1.09-7.27),
drinking alcohol (AOR: 3.3,CI :1.57-6.96), high perceived susceptibility (AOR: 0.06,
CI:0.03-0.12) and high perceived barriers (AOR : 3.38 ,CI:1.88-6.2)were found to be
statistically significant with non adherence.
Conclusion and recommendation: Magnitude of non adherence to anti-hypertensive
treatment in Gondar town was high as compared to 80% of adherence index. Living in rural
setting , inadequate explanation, drinking alcohol, high perceived susceptibility and high
perceived barriers were significantly associated with non-adherence. Therefore, it is
important to give an adequate explanation and health education to patients to help them have
correct perception of their susceptibility and perceived barriers . Moreover it is better to
give health education for patients on the importance of adherence.
Key words: Non adherence, Health belief model, antihypertensive treatment, public health
facilities,Gondar
