Barriers to diabetes medication adherence in North West Ethiopia

Low adherence to prescribed diabetes medications is one of the major reasons to poor glycemic control in developing countries. Therefore, this study attempted to assess the magnitude of medication adherence and factors associated with it among adult persons with diabetes in northwest Ethiopia.

This study utilized a cross sectional study design with internal comparison. The study population was adult persons with diabetes attending the Diabetes Referral Clinic of Gondar University Hospital. Adherence was assessed using the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). In addition laboratory tests and chart reviews were carried out to collect relevant data. Ordinary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with adherence.

A total of 391 patients were studied. Based on the MMAS-8 scale, the self-reported adherence to diabetic medication was low for 25.4% [95% CI: 21, 29] of the patients, medium for 28.7% [95% CI: 24, 33], and high for 45.9% [95% CI: 41, 50] of the patients. The Mean (±SD) of glycosylated hemoglobin for the low adherence group was 8.2% (±2.1). It was 8.1% (±2.0), for the medium, and 7.4% (±1.6) for the high adherence group. In the multivariate analysis poor wealth status (AOR = 1.99; 1.15, 3.43), using traditional treatment (AOR = 2.90; 1.03, 8.15), and service dissatisfaction (AOR = 2.23; 1.04, 4.80) were significantly associated with low adherence to prescribed diabetic medications.

Over half of the persons with diabetes did not adhere to medications. Adherence was poor among users of traditional treatment and those dissatisfied with services. Developing a more intensive communication strategies and improving the quality of services could improve the level of adherence.