title: Factors associated with medication adherence among patients with schizophrenia in Mekelle, Northern Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-adherence to antipsychotic medication has a negative impact on the course of illness resulting in increased risk of relapse, rehospitalization and suicide, and increased costs to healthcare systems. The objective of this study was to investigate factors associated with medication adherence among patients with schizophrenia at Ayder Referral Hospital and Mekelle Hospital in Mekelle, Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a cross-sectional survey in which sociodemographic characteristics, drug attitudes, insight and side effects were measured and explored in terms of their relationship with medication adherence. A structured questionnaire as a data collection tool was used. Data were analyzed with the help of SPSS Version 20.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 393 patients participated, 26.5% were non-adherent to their antipsychotic medication. The factors significantly associated with better adherence were positive treatment attitudes (AOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.26, 1.55), fewer side effects (AOR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94, 0.99), awareness of illness (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.85) and the ability to relabel symptoms (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.07). However, khat chewers (AOR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.68), being illiterate (AOR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.47) and older age group (AOR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.16) were associated with less medication adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high prevalence of medication non-adherence was found among patients with schizophrenia. Intervention strategies focused on educating the patients to better understand the illness, medications and their potential side effects might be useful in improving adherence to antipsychotic medication treatment.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors: Tadele
authors: T
authors: Eticha
authors: Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors: Amha
authors: A
authors: Teklu
authors: Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors: Dagim
authors: D
authors: Ali
authors: Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors: Gebremedhin
authors: G
authors: Solomon
authors: Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors: Adissu
authors: A
authors: Alemayehu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001364:Awareness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents