Determinants of Adherence to Tuberculosis Chemotherapy in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Arthur G Nderitu; Peter N Karimi; Eric M Guantai; Apollo O Maima

Arthur G Nderitu Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacy Practice, University of Nairobi
Peter N Karimi Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacy Practice, University of Nairobi
Eric M Guantai Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, University of Nairobi
Apollo O Maima School of Pharmacy, Maseno University, Kenya

Keywords: Adherence, Tuberculosis, Determinants

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading global cause of death and Kenya is among the top
20 countries with a high burden of the disease. Adherence to drugs used to treat
the disease remains a crucial challenge towards the elimination of TB in Kenya.
This study evaluated the rate and determinants of adherence to TB chemotherapy
among adult patients attending health clinics in Nairobi between April and May
2017. A cross-sectional study was carried out in five randomly selected health
centres in the Eastlands area of Nairobi involving 113 respondents who
voluntarily consented and met the inclusion criteria. Data was collected using a
researcher-administered questionnaire and the level of adherence assessed using
participants self-reporting. From the results obtained, the participants exhibited
low (11, 9.7%), medium (46, 40.7%), and high (56, 49.6%) adherence to TB
therapy. Upon stepwise multivariate regression, the absence of a DOT supporter
(p=0.039) and being on other medications (p=0.021) were significantly associated
with non-adherence. It is inferred that DOT support enhanced adherence while
co-morbidities decreased it.