title: Determinants of Noncompliance to Clinic Appointments and Medications among Nigerian Children with Epilepsy: Experience in a Tertiary Health Facility in Enugu, Nigeria.
abstract: Purpose. To determine the frequency and determinants of noncompliance to clinic appointment and medication among Nigerian children with epilepsy. Method. This is a cross-sectional survey of noncompliance to clinic appointments and medication among 113 consecutive children with epilepsy attending the Paediatric Neurology Clinic of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, southeastern Nigeria. Results. Noncompliance to clinic appointment and medication was 23% and 15.3%, respectively. The major reasons given were lack of finance, clashing with school time, and forgetting to take the drugs. Children whose mothers were less educated and unemployed were more likely to miss clinic appointments. Noncompliance to medication was associated with poor seizure control. Children that were on phenobarbitone were more likely to be noncompliant with medication than those on sodium valproate and/or carbamazepine. Conclusion. Missed clinic appointment and medication noncompliance are common among Nigerian children with epilepsy and financial constraint is the most common reason.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Roland Chidi
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ibekwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Appolos Chidi
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ndukuba
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ann Ebele
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Aronu
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Christopher Bismarck
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Eke
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
authors.forename: MaryAnn Ugochi
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Ibekwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ngozi Chinyelu
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Ojinnaka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004827:Epilepsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*