Prevalence and Factors Contributing to Non-adherence to Diabetes Treatment among Diabetic Patients Attending Government Hospitals in Addis Ababa

Background: Non- adherence to diabetes treatment regimen is possibly the most common reason for poor health outcomes among people with diabetes. Non-adherence in chronic disease is claimed as a patient taking less than 80% of the prescribed treatment. The rates of non-adherence to diabetes regimen tasks are highly variable but have significant consequences on the outcome & the effectiveness of treatment.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence & factors associated with non-adherence to diabetes treatment among diabetic patients attending diabetic clinics at a governmental hospital in Addis Ababa.

Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted on 308 diabetic patients attending diabetic clinics at a governmental hospital in Addis Ababa. Study subjects have been selected by using systematic random sampling technique. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were entered by using Epidata-3.1 & then exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Frequency distribution was used to organise the data. Multivariate logistic regression was used to predict the factors which affect adherence.

Results: The prevalence of non-adherence to diabetes treatment was found to be 68.1%. In multivariate logistic regression age(>= 60,(AOR=1.21)), educational status(illiterate (AOR= 1.62)) , duration of treatment(> 5yeras(AOR= 4.032)) & presence of co-morbidity (AOR= 1.796)) were significantly associated with non adherence to diabetes treatment

Conclusion: The result of this study had shown a high prevalence of non-adherence to diabetes treatment with age of the patient, educational level, duration of treatment & presence of co-morbidity having a significant association with non-adherence.