Abstract            Volume:8  Issue-9  Year-2020         Original Research Articles

Online ISSN : 2347 - 3215 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcret@gmail.com

Hypertension is among the new health threats to most African countries. Good adherence to prescribed medications and a healthy lifestyle are important for controlling blood pressure. This study measured adherence to antihypertensive medications and investigated the factors affecting it. This was a single institution-based cross-sectional study of hypertensive individuals on antihypertensive drug treatment at Dilchora Hospital, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Self-reported drug adherence was measured using the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) to label the patient as adherent or non-adherent. Bivariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine associations between drug adherence and other variables. Variables with p-values<0.2in the bivariate analysis were candidates for multivariate logistic regression. Finally, variables with p-values<0.05 in multivariate logistic regression were considered statistically significant. The mean (+SD) age of the respondents was 58.6 (+12.8) years. 227 (56.6%) respondents had stage I hypertension, and 66.3% reported comorbidities.65.6% of patients were adherent to antihypertensive drugs but, during enrolment, only 89 (22.2%) of respondents met JNC7 blood pressure control criteria. Age, distance from hospital, years after diagnosis, family history, knowledge about hypertension, regular visits to facilities, and khatchewing were significantly associated with adherence to antihypertensive medications. Adherence to antihypertensive medication was low in this population. Strategies to improve adherence should include nearby services and awareness creation about hypertension and its complications.

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