Prevalence, Personality Traits, Sociodemographic and Clinical Factors Associated with Psychotropic Medication Non-adherence in Uganda: A Hospital-Based Study
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Date
2023-01
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Kampala International University.
Abstract
Background: Psychiatric disorders like other chronic disorders are treated by medications both in acute and in long-term management. Medication adherence is the first and main determinant of treatment success. Non-adherence to psychiatric drugs is associated with relapse, readmission and premature death. Despite the free access to medications in public institutions, non-adherence to psychotropic medications is still high in Eastern Africa but there is currently paucity of published studies on the level of psychotropic medication adherence and associated factors. Aim: To determine the prevalence of psychotropic medication non-adherence and associated personality traits, socio-demographic and clinical factors among people with mental illness at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital (KIU-TH) and Jinja Regional Referral (JRRH) hospital.
Methods: A Hospital based cross-sectional design was used in this study. 396 adults with mental illness were recruited from outpatient clinics of KIU-TH and JRRH. Medication adherence was assessed using MARS scale while personality traits were assessed by the short form version of BFI scale. STATA 15 was used for data analysis and logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with psychotropic medication non-adherence. Resultats: The prevalence of psychotropic medication non-adherence was 46.21% and factors significantly associated with psychotropic medication non-adherence were poor family support (aOR= 6.915, CI=3.679-12.998, P<0.001), belief in witchcraft/sorcery (aOR=2.959, CI=1.488-5.884, P=0.002), having side effects (aOR=2.257, CI=1.326-3.843, P=0.003), substance use (aOR=4.174, CI=2.121-8.214, P=<0.001). Personality traits associated with psychotropic medication non-adherence were neuroticism (aOR=7.424, CI=3.890-14.168, P<0.001) and agreeableness (aOR=0.062, CI=0.024-0.160, P<0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of medication non-adherence was high. Patients with poor social support, beliefs in witchcrafts, side effects, substances use and neuroticism personality traits were more likely to be non-adherent. Only patients with agreeableness trait were less likely to be non-adherent to medications.