Abstract summary 

Non-adherence to antipsychotic medication is a key factor to poor treatment outcome, frequent relapse, poor quality of life and increased economic burden of mental illness.To determine the prevalence and associated factors of medication adherence among patients with schizophrenia on antipsychotic medications.Through a cross-sectional survey, two hundred and nine patients with schizophrenia on antipsychotic medications were recruited through a systematic random sampling to participate in the study. Data were collected using the Socio-demographic Questionnaire, Medication Adherence Rating Scale and Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale. Frequencies and percentages were used to compute categorical variables. Associations of socio-clinical variables with medication adherence were analyzed using chi-square and variables with significant association were subjected to logistic regression analysis to determine the independent predictor of medication adherence.The prevalence of high, medium, and low medication adherence was 43.1%, 44%, and 12.9% respectively. Factors significantly associated with medication adherence at bivariate analysis were age (χ2=22.97; p=0.003), number of drugs (χ2=16.23; p=0.003), female gender (χ2=6.55; p=0.038), prolactin level ((χ2=14.93; p=0.021) and severity of illness (χ2=17.77; p=0.007). The independent predictors of high medication adherence were age (p=0.014), fewer number of drugs (p=0.006), and normal to mildly ill on PANSS scale (p=0.015).Non-adherence to antipsychotic medication was found among 56.9% of patients with schizophrenia. The findings of this study call for a proactive psychosocial counselling approach for mental health consumers and their caregivers.

Authors & Co-authors:  Shettima Falmata F Sheikh Taiwo T Wakil Musa M Wakama Ibrahim I Abdulaziz Mohammed M Rabbebe Isa I

Study Outcome 

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