Non-Adherence To Medication Regimen Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients At Tema General Hospital

ABSTRACT Background: Non-adherence to diabetic medication is one of the major public health challenges to diabetes management and poses a major risk factor for developing cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. Objectives: This study sought to assess non- adherence to medication regimen among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients at the diabetic clinic at Tema General Hospital (TGH). Method: A descriptive cross sectional study using quantitative method were employed. A structured questionnaire and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) were used to measure the levels of non-adherence to medications. Data were entered and analyzed using STATA version 13. The association between exposure variables and nonadherence were analyzed using cross- tabulation, and the significances were tested using Chi square. Crude and adjusted odds ratio (COR/ AOR) were used to determine the factors associated with medication non- adherence and a p- value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Data were collected from 206 patients between the ages 24 to 90 years with a mean age of 59.1 years. The prevalence of non-adherence to medication was 47.6% among T2DM patients at the TGH. Non-adherence was found among males 52.8% between ages 60-69 years while females recorded 47.2%. Non-adherence to medication was mostly 71.4% (5/206) seen among the unmarried and 62.5% (25/206) was seen among unemployed. Conclusion: Non-adherence to DM medication should be paid a particular attention and given intense education by the health providers to the patients and families. Patients’ knowledge about diabetes is associated with higher adherence proportion and better glycemic control.