Antihypertensive medication adherence and its associated factors among adult hypertensive patients at public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Back GroundThe prevalence of hypertension among adults in Ethiopia is about 20.6%, and antihypertensive medication adherence is one of the indicators of treatment success for hypertensive patients. However, little is known about the current prevalence and the factors associated with antihypertensive medication adherence in the study area. Patients and MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 6 to April 5, 2023 (G.C.). The sample size was 414. Four public hospitals in Addis Ababa were selected using a lottery method. To determine the number of study subjects in each hospital, a proportional allocation was used based on the total number of hypertensive patients. Respondents were selected through simple random sampling. ResultsThe study revealed an overall adherence rate of 66.2%, with a mean age of 56.31 {+/-} 14.61. Several factors were found to be significantly associated with adherence. These include knowledge about hypertension and its management (AOR=2.477, 95% CI: 1.499-4.093), patient-to-healthcare provider communication (AOR=2.165, 95% CI: 1.331-3.520), availability of anti-hypertension drugs in hospitals (AOR=1.778, 95% CI: 1.096-2.885), and controlled blood pressure (AOR=2.773, 95% CI: 1.707-4.507). Notably, the practice of self-blood pressure monitoring was not found to be statistically significantly associated with adherence. These findings suggest that factors such as knowledge, communication with healthcare providers, drug availability, and blood pressure control play significant roles in patient adherence to hypertension management. Conclusion and RecommendationThe study highlights suboptimal medication adherence among hypertensive patients. Improving patient-to-healthcare provider communication is crucial for enhancing adherence. Educating patients about hypertension and ensuring the availability of anti-hypertension drugs in hospitals is also essential. This multifaceted approach can lead to better adherence and improved health outcomes for hypertensive patients.