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Antiepileptic drug adherence in children in southern Ethiopia: A cross sectional study

Shamil Ahmed Dima1, Mulugeta Sitot Shibeshi2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Madda Walabu University, Gobba, Ethiopia.

Plos One
|February 17, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Treatment adherence is crucial for controlling seizures in children with epilepsy. Low family income and recent seizures were linked to poor antiepileptic drug adherence in a study in Ethiopia.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Public Health
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder with significant health impacts.
  • Treatment adherence is a key factor in managing seizure control.
  • Understanding factors influencing adherence is vital for effective pediatric epilepsy management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify factors affecting antiepileptic drug (AED) adherence in children with epilepsy.
  • To provide insights for improving treatment adherence in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 192 children (≤14 years) with epilepsy in Southern Ethiopia.
  • Medication adherence was assessed using the eight-item Morisky's Medication Adherence Scale.
  • Logistic regression analysis was employed to determine factors associated with AED adherence.

Main Results:

  • 65% of children demonstrated adherence to their antiepileptic medications.
  • Factors associated with good adherence included smaller family size (≤5) and shorter epilepsy duration (<2 years).
  • Poor adherence was predicted by lower monthly family income (<1000 ETB) and recent seizure activity (past 3 months).

Conclusions:

  • Antiepileptic drug adherence among children in the study setting is suboptimal.
  • Low family income and recent seizure occurrence are significant predictors of poor adherence.
  • Interventions such as free medication for low-income families and enhanced patient/caretaker education may improve adherence.
Abstract

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