Factors contributing to non-adherence with treatment among TB patients in Sodo Woreda, Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A qualitative study

Abstract

Poor adherence by tuberculosis (TB) patients to their medication contributes not only to the worsening of their TB situation but also paves a way for incidence of drug resistance. This study, hence, aims to explore factors contributing for non-adherence of TB treatment among TB patients in Sodo Woreda, Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia. A qualitative study, which included 22 in-depth interviews from four health centers and seven health posts, was conducted from February 25 to April 27, 2014. Although the drugs were given free of charge, many patients were unable to adhere to their treatment because of one or a combination of the following factors; lack of adequate food, poor communication between healthcare providers and patients, beliefs in traditional healing system, unavailability of the service in nearby health facilities, side-effect and pill burden of the drugs, stigma and discrimination. The patients take their anti-TB medications under difficult circumstances and experienced a wide range of interacting factors. This, in turn, has resulted for non-adhered treatment taking behavior by many patients. Health professionals and policy makers should be aware of such factors and initiate sustained educational campaigns directed towards all parties in the study area to obtain a good success with TB treatment.

Non-adherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment, reasons and associated factors among TB patients attending at Gondar town health centers, Northwest Ethiopia

“…Poor patient-provider relationship also had significant association. This agreed to findings of studies in Sodo woreda, Southern Ethiopia [ 23 ]. Besides, alcohol intake had significant association with non-adherence.…”

Implementation fidelity of hospital based directly observed therapy for tuberculosis treatment in Bhutan: mixed-method study

“…The barriers of poor adherance to DOT was due to patients not willing to come to the clinic for DOT on daily basis due to long distance, financial crisis for traveling (cost for transportation and accomodation) and lack of support from family and friends. Similar barrier factors for DOT were reported in other studies like in Nepal [21], Brazil [17], Ethiopia [22,23]. In addition, lack of awareness of TB and its consequences, and the belief, prompted many respondents to visit traditional healers [21].…”

“…Another study found that DOT can improve TB treatment adherence and protect TB patients from adverse outcomes by 25% [17]. Poor adherence by TB patients to their medication contributes not only to the worsening of their TB situation but also paves a way for the incidence of drug resistance [23].…”

Benefits of health reform for households in rural South Africa following implementation of ward-based primary healthcare outreach teams: a qualitative inquiry

“…Established referral procedures and feedback mechanisms between home-based care and the health care system [13] are necessary aspects of PHC reforms. Studies conducted on treatment adherence show that a good healthcare worker-patient relationship can contribute to better treatment adherence [32–34]. Furthermore, literature shows that patients provided with adequate knowledge about treatment show high adherence rates as patient behaviour is largely influenced by knowledge and acceptance of their disease and treatment [33,34].…”