Prevalence and correlates of poor medication adherence amongst psychiatric outpatients in southwestern Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the rate of adherence to medications amongst psychiatric outpatients in Nigeria and examine factors associated with medication nonadherence amongst this group.


METHODS
Psychiatric outpatients (n=342) from three centres were assessed for medication adherence using the Morisky Medication Adherence Questionnaire. Details regarding sociodemographic variables (age, sex, education, religion, marital status, employment, income, medication cost), illness related variables (diagnosis, duration, number of episodes/admissions, insight, severity of symptoms, mental state, functional status), medication related variables (type, mode of administration, side effect, attitude to medication) and perception related variables (self-stigma, perceived causation and prognosis) were also obtained.


RESULTS
There were 76 participants (22.2%) with good medication adherence, 102 (29.8%) with moderate adherence and 164 (48.0%) with poor adherence. The significant independent correlates of poor medication adherence included being employed [odds ratio (OR) 3.42, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.17-5.39], poor social support (OR 5.86, 95% CI 2.87-12.17), high self-stigma (OR 4.70, 95% CI 2.24-9.96) and perceived spiritual causation of mental illness (OR 3.74, 95% CI 1.87-7.74).


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of psychiatric outpatients in southwestern Nigeria had poor medication adherence. Our findings stressed the importance of patients' perception and social environment in determining treatment adherence and the necessity of educating the patient. Clinicians' attention to psychological barriers early in treatment may improve medication adherence and ultimately affect the course of illness.
Adewuya
Abiodun O
AO
Department of Behavioural Medicine, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. biodunwuya@yahoo.com
Owoeye
Olugbenga A
OA
Erinfolami
Adebayo R
AR
Coker
Ayodele O
AO
Ogun
Oluyemi C
OC
Okewole
Adeniran O
AO
Dada
Mobolaji U
MU
Eze
Christian N
CN
Bello-Mojeed
Mashudat A
MA
Akindipe
Taiwo O
TO
Olagunju
Andrew T
AT
Etim
Etop
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult