ABSTRACT
Non-adherence to antihypertensive drugs is the most important cause of uncontrolled blood pressure. Uncontrolled blood pressure leads to the development of complications of hypertension. Hospital records at Federal Staff Hospitals (FSH) and Clinics, Abuja showed that hypertensive patients seen have been increasing on a yearly basis from January 2011 to June 2013. This study was conducted in order to identify factors associated with non-adherence to antihypertensive drugs among Federal Civil Servants in order to provide improved management plans suited for them. Four hundred and twenty four hypertensive patients at two Federal Staff Hospitals and two Federal Staff Clinics in Abuja participated. A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out from August 2013 to June 2014. Participants 18 years and above, who had been on antihypertensive drugs in at least the previous one month and must have been Federal Civil Servants were included in the study. Patients were selected by systematic sampling. Ethical clearance was obtained from the National Health Research Ethics Committee, Federal Ministry of Health Abuja. The Morisky Green test for non-adherence was used to assess non-adherence to drugs. Information was collected regarding socio-demographic, drug related and healthcare service delivery factors to patient non-adherence using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis was conducted using Epi info soft ware. The level of non-adherence was 69.1%. Factors that were independently associated with non-adherence were; being a Junior Civil Servant (OR 2.9: 95% CI 1.1-7.7), exhaustion of drugs before the next clinic appointment (OR 5.9: 95% CI 2.8-12.5), buying drugs in xii private pharmacies and open market (OR 1.9: 95%CI 1.03-3.3) and total time spent counselling less than five minutes (OR 1.8: 95%CI 1.02-3.2). Ensuring patients come back to the hospital to refill their drugs, improving counselling techniques and making prescribed antihypertensive drugs constantly available in the hospital, could improve the level of non-adherence to antihypertensive drugs among patients attending Federal Staff Hospitals and Clinics. Key words: Non-adherence, antihypertensive drugs, Federal Civil Servants, Nigeria