Predictors Of Tb Treatment Adherence Among Patients Aged Above 18 Years Attending Tb Clinic In Kisumu East Sub-County

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis (TB) contributes 2.7% of total Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) in

low income countries. It is also the leading infectious cause of mortality and morbidity

in these countries. Kenya is one of the countries with the highest burden of

tuberculosis globally. The country still has poor treatment outcomes in a significant

number of patients. These poor treatment outcomes have been considerably linked to

TB treatment adherence problems. The study area, Kisumu East sub-County, had the

lowest TB treatment cure rates (81%) in the country versus the recommended 85%.

This can be linked to treatment adherence problems. Therefore, a cross sectional

descriptive study was conducted to establish the predictors of TB treatment adherence

among patients aged above 18 years attending TB clinics in Kisumu East sub-County.

A total of 250 respondents were interviewed. Random numbers were used to assign

respondents to the study from TB permanent register. An interviewer administered

structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents on the social,

demographic, behavioral, biological, treatment and health system predictors of TB

treatment adherence. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics for sociodemographic

variables and bivariate analysis as the selection criteria for inclusion in

the binary logistic regression analysis. A p values (p≤0.05), Odds Ratios and 95%

confidence interval (CI) were used to demonstrate association between selected

variables. Adherence among the respondents was at 90.5% (226 respondents). Number

of family members (OR: 6; 95%CI: 2-19;p= 0.005), having a family member to

remind the patient when to take the drugs (OR:4; 95%CI:2-13;p=0.007) and time

taken before seeking health care (OR: 3.7; 95%CI: 2.2-6.7; p