title: Adherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia.
abstract: METHODS
  Tuberculosis (TB) patients in Mekelle Zone, Tigray Region, in Ethiopia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate adherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study in health facilities providing anti-tuberculosis treatment was conducted. Adherence was measured in three ways: through self-reported missed doses, by visual analogue scale whereby patients rate their own adherence and by record review. A patient was considered to be adherent if 90% or more of the prescribed medication was taken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 278 TB patients included, 101 were in the intensive and 177 in the continuation phase. Respectively 67 (24.1%), 130 (46.8%) and 80 (28.8%) patients had smear-positive, smear-negative and extra-pulmonary TB. Self-report of missed doses and record review indicated adherence of respectively 273 (97.3%) and 271 (97.5%) patients. By visual analogue scale, 250 (91.6%) patients rated themselves as adherent. History of drug side effects (aOR 0.25, 95%CI 0.08-0.77) and knowledge about TB prevention (aOR 0.19, 95%CI 0.05-0.8) were independently associated with being adherent in this setting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment was high in our study. Adherence support should be given to the poor, the elderly, patients co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, alcohol abusers and smokers. Health education on TB prevention should be given to all TB patients regularly.
authors.affiliation: Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kiros
authors.affiliation: Tigray Regional Health Bureau, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teklu
authors.affiliation: Mekelle Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Desalegn
authors.affiliation: Tigray Regional Laboratory, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tesfay
authors.affiliation: KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, The Hague, The Netherlands ; Department of Global Health, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klinkenberg
authors.affiliation: Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mulugeta
keywords: continuation phase; intensive phase; record review; risk factor; visual analogue scale