Factors Associated with Non-Adherence to Anti Diabetic Medications among Diabetic Patients in Some Selected Polyclinics in the Ablekuma Sub Metropolitan, Accra, Ghana.

Abstract

Non- adherence to anti diabetic medication amongst diabetic patients has become a global issue. This has led to so many co-morbidities associated with diabetes hence increasing the morbidity and death related to it. Despites these issues studies examining non-adherence to anti-diabetic medications amongst type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients is rare. This study sought to examine non-adherence to anti-diabetic medications amongst type 2 DM patients in some selected polyclinic in the Ablekuma Sub-Metropolitan namely Mamprobi and Dansoman polyclinics. Using a structured questionnaire 179 type 2 diabetics were interviewed. Non-adherence to medications was measured using the morisky medication adherence scale. The results showed that about 70.4 % had poor glycaemic control with their fasting blood sugar (FBS) above 7.0mmol with prevalence of non-adherence being 66.5 % which means that most of the patients had poor adherence and this has negative implications on the management of patients with diabetes. There was significant association between non adherence to medical regimen and religion (p=0.002), educational level (p<0.001), occupation (p<0.001) and monthly income (p<0.001) but there was no significant linkage with age, sex and marital status. In addition, religion, occupation, educational background and income had significant association with non-adherence to medication but there was no significant association between marital status, age, sex. This study showed that non-adherent patients had a 1.26 increased chance of having poor glycemic control (i.e. FBS of more than 7. 0mmol.) due to non-adherence. Finally, the study showed that non adherence increased the chance of having poor glycemic control.