The Effect of Psychosocial Factors and Patients’ Perception of Tuberculosis Treatment Non-Adherence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although there are several studies reported onfactors affecting tuberculosis (TB) treatment non-adherence, thereis information gap on psychosocial and patients’ perceptionsaspects. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effect ofpsychosocial factors and patients’ perceptions on TB treatmentnon-adherence in Ethiopia.METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted in Addis Ababafrom May to December, 2014. Thirty one health facilities wererandomly selected and 698 TB patients, who had been ontreatment, were enrolled consecutively using patient registrationnumber. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data ondemographics, knowledge, psychological distress, alcohol use,tobacco smoking and six HBM domains. Treatment adherencelevel was the main outcome variable, and it measured using visualanalog scale. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20was used for data analysis.RESULTS: Non-adherence level within last one month prior to thestudy was 19.5%. After controlling for all potential confoundingvariables, Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) status (Adjusted OddsRatio (AOR) = 1.79, 95% Confidence interval (CI) ( 1.09 -2.95)),alcohol use (AOR = 2.11, 95% CI (1.33-3.37)), economic status(AOR = 0.53, 95% CI (0.33-0.8 2 )), perceived barriers (AOR =1.21, 95% CI (1.10-1.47)) and psychological distress (AOR =1.83, 95% CI (1.47-2.29)) were independently associated withTB treatment non-adherence.CONCLUSION: ART status, economic status, alcohol use,perceived barrier and psychological distress are the major areasthat need to be targeted with health promotion intervention toenhance TB treatment adherence.