Factors associated with noncompliance to hypertension treatment in adults in a district health facility in north Dayi in the Volta Region of Ghana

Abstract

Context: Hypertension is known to affect more than one billion of the world's population with complications such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Compliance with hypertension therapy is the extent to which one's behavior in following a diet plan, taking medications, or making lifestyle changes corresponds to the agreed recommendations from a health-care provider. This research explores factors influencing noncompliance to hypertension treatment in the North Dayi District of the Volta Region, Ghana. Aims: To determine the prevalence of noncompliance to hypertension therapy in patients diagnosed with hypertension in the study population. 1. To evaluate the knowledge of patients on hypertension. 2. To ascertain contributing factors influencing noncompliance to the treatment of hypertension. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2021 to February 2021 in the North Dayi District. A sample of 191 respondents diagnosed with hypertension for at least 1 month with or without comorbidities and on treatment were selected using the systematic sampling method. An Adherence Barrier Questionnaire was adopted to assess reliability in the responses. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done using noncompliance to hypertension therapy as the outcome of interest. Statistical Analysis Used: Fisher's Exact, logistic regression, Cronbach's alpha analysis. Results: Data were collected from 191 study participants between the ages of 25 and 101 years with an average age estimated at (62.2 ± 13.5) years. The prevalence of nonadherence to hypertension treatment in this study was 31.4% in the North Dayi District Hospital. The reported Marital status and Default review were statistically significant predictors of adherence to hypertension treatment at a chosen 95% Confidence Level. Conclusion: The degree of non-compliance to hypertension treatment was less than fifty per cent among respondents. The data suggests that strategies should be developed to help reduce waiting times for consultation at the Hypertension Clinic by the District Hospital in collaboration with other stakeholders.